Fadiel Adams Says He Was ‘Swimming’ in Back of Police Van After His May Arrest in Cape Town
- National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry
- The Member of Parliament described how he was driven from Cape Town to KwaZulu-Natal following his arrest
- Adams was arrested on 5 May 2026 on charges of fraud and defeating or obstructing the course of justice
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
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 - Fadiel Adams told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that he was ‘swimming’ at the back of a police van following his arrest in Cape Town in May 2026.
Adams was arrested on 5 May 2026 at his residence in the Parliamentary village in Pelican Park, Cape Town, on charges of fraud and defeating or obstructing the course of justice linked to alleged interference in the Sindiso Magaqa murder investigation.
He was transported in the back of a police van and driven by road to KwaZulu-Natal, a trip of roughly 1,600 kilometres. He said the journey coincided with one of the worst storms Cape Town had seen in approximately a decade.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Adams claims the journey happened during a storm
Talking about the trip, he said that he was only wearing a light hoodie with no protective covering in the back of the vehicle. He described water accumulating to the point where he was effectively "swimming" during the ordeal.
The full trip, he told the commission, lasted close to 30 hours, though he acknowledged he might be slightly overstating the duration.
He said the storm that battered the vehicle lasted around eight hours of that journey. He noted he had been denied access to medication he took daily and was left waiting for legal representation while dealing with visibly swollen shoulders, photographs of which he referenced during his testimony.
What particularly frustrated Adams was the justification offered by police. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe had publicly described the road transfer as a cost-effective decision.
Adams pushed back on this firmly, stating that several flights had been available and that the convoy of four vehicles consumed significant fuel in diesel costs alone. He argued the road trip was not a practical decision but rather an excessive one, used to make an example of him.
Other stories about Adams' Madlanga Commission appearances
- Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga reprimanded Adams and questioned whether he was taking the Commission seriously.
- Adams promised 'big bombs’ when he testified before the Madlanga Commission, but South Africans were sceptical.
- Adams told the Madlanga Commission not to take his social media comments seriously, describing himself as a fool.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
