National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams (49) appeared in the Pinetown Magistrates’ Court today, 7 May, facing three counts of fraud and two counts of defeating the administration of justice, after evading arrest earlier this week before being taken into custody at the Parliamentary Village of Pelican Park in Cape Town.
Adams, a member of the National Assembly representing the National Coloured Congress, is accused of conducting unauthorised interviews with two awaiting trial inmates at Westville Correctional Centre on 2 November 2024 and 24 January 2025.
The state alleges that Adams misrepresented to the South African Police Service, eThekwini Metro Police and officials at Westville Correctional Centre that he was on official duty. Given this impression, authorities arranged an official escort for him from King Shaka International Airport to the correctional centre and back.
One of the inmates was in custody for the Sindiso Magaqa murder case, while the other was in custody for a separate matter. The state alleges that Adams recorded the interviews and engaged with the inmates without authorisation from the investigating team or the legal representatives of the inmates.
The state further alleges that Adams was not officially mandated by Parliament to conduct these visits.
During today’s court appearance, the state advised its opposition to bail. The matter was postponed to 13 May for a bail application.
The South African Police Service had issued a warrant for Adams’ arrest earlier this week, calling on him to hand himself over. Police had made arrangements with his attorney for him to present himself at the Cape Town Central Police Station on 4 May, but he failed to cooperate before his eventual arrest.
The case against three accused in the Sindiso Magaqa murder matter, namely Sbonelo Myeza, Mbulelo Mpofana and Zweliphansi Stanley Skhosana, returns to the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 18 May for trial. Myeza and Mpofana will remain out on bail while Skhosana is in custody following an unsuccessful bail application.
Magaqa, who served as ANC Youth League secretary-general and as a councillor for Umzimkhulu Local Municipality, was shot in July 2017 and died from his injuries in September 2017. Hitman Sibusiso Ncengwa was sentenced to 25 years in prison in July 2025 after pleading guilty to murder and other charges.
