The State has alleged that member of Parliament Fadiel Adams interfered with potential witnesses in the murder case of slain Sindiso Magaqa.
Magaqa, an African National Congress politician, was shot in 2017 and later died in hospital from his injuries.
Adams, who also leads the National Coloured Congress, appeared in the Pinetown Magistrates’ Court, west of Durban, on Wednesday.
State Details Alleged Calls To Witnesses
The MP is facing charges related to allegedly disrupting police investigations at what prosecutors described as an advanced stage of the case.
Advocate Lawrence Gcaba told the court that Adams repeatedly attempted to contact one of the witnesses despite being warned not to do so.
“Paragraph 4, there is a warning from this witness, Mr stop, ‘don’t call me, you will put me into trouble’, he calls at 21:08pm, there was no answer, followed by another call at 21:18, again there was no answer, insisting and insisting to call and then at 21:30, he says a WhatsApp asking me to send him my statement.”
Fadiel Adams Says Prison Visits Were Part Of Parliamentary Duties
Adams’ lawyer, Advocate Yuri Ganga, read an affidavit in court in which the MP defended his conduct.
According to Adams, he was entitled to visit inmates as part of his responsibilities as a member of Parliament.
“I attended, in my capacity as a member of Parliament, and was received as such. The State’s allegations that I was not officially mandated by Parliament to conduct these visits fundamentally mischaracterises the nature and the scope of the parliamentary oversight functions.”
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In addition to the allegations related to the Magaqa murder investigation, Adams has denied fraud charges brought against him.
The matter has been postponed, and Adams is expected to return to the dock on Friday.
