Fadiel Adams’ Madlanga Commission Admission Has People Debating Whether He Could Face Perjury Charge

Published 19 Aug 2026 at 12:24 PM

by Byron Pillay

3 min read

Fadiel Adams faced intense questioning during his appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry
The National Coloured Congress leader was grilled about a statement he made during his first appearance
South Africans took to social media to weigh in on Adams' admission, debating what would happen next to him

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Fadiel Adams admitted to lying at the Madlanga Commission, sparking a debate about whether he could be charged for perjury. Image: @D_Molatoli
Source: Twitter

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG – South Africans are speculating whether Fadiel Adams will be charged for perjury after he admitted that he had provided untruthful information to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Adams, the leader of the National Coloured Congress, appeared before the Commission on 19 August 2026, where he was grilled about a statement he made when he previously testified before the Commission on 11 August 2026.

Adams cornered on email timeline

Chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga pressed Adams on a specific claim he had made during his 11 August appearance, in which he stated he had only seen an October 2025 email communication from the Commission for the first time three months ago.

The Commission then produced evidence that Adams replied to the October email shortly after receiving it, thereby disputing his claim that he didn’t see it at first. Justice Madlanga then repeatedly pushed him for an answer about his statement.

"Now I will repeat my question for the third time. And I will say it was untruthful of you to say that you only saw the communication of October 2025 for the first time three months ago."

Adams eventually conceded.

"Yes, the information I submitted was wrong. It was untruthful. Yes, Chairperson," he said.

Adams explained the confusion, stating that he had responded to the email at the time of receipt but had mistakenly conflated it with follow-up correspondence he only reviewed later. He then took full responsibility for the issue.

How did South Africans react?

South Africans following the proceedings have raised the question of whether Adams could face perjury charges as a result of the admission made before the Commission.

@hervoice50 noted:

“Fadiel Adams has admitted that he lied, committed perjury, in the first 15 minutes of the session. He lied on 11 August 2026 that he didn't see the October 2025 Rule 3 Notice email.”

@ZA

“Fadiel Adams has just admitted to Justice Madlanga that he lied on the 11th of August that he was being truthful when he claimed about having first seen the email three months ago. That's it, arrest this thing and charge him for perjury.”

@MapekaMosesi added:

“It's embarrassing now for Adams. I am afraid he will be arrested again for perjury.”

@TiChitsinde questioned:

“How many counts of perjury do you think Fadiel Adams will have racked up by the time he's done? On a scale of Ms Ramsamy (nil to minimum) to Adv Johnson (all that are available).”