The many faces of Suliman Carrim

Controversial businessman Suliman Carrim, who is scheduled to return to the Madlanga commission next week, is arguably the North West’s most influential and politically connected entrepreneur.

Feared and admired in equal measure, his rise to the “big league” was driven by former provincial premier Supra Mahumapelo, with whom he had a close relationship.

In Carrim’s home town of Mahikeng, he is often referred to as “motho wa Supra” — Supra’s person. Over the years, he has made hundreds of millions of rands from government and municipal contracts in the province, mostly in security and transport.

In return, Carrim has funded countless community projects, from municipal wellness programmes to blanket drives and food-parcel distributions.

I am not really into politics, but I have never gone to him [Carrim] asking for something and he refused to help me

—  - Community leader

In 2022, he was elected unopposed as the ANC’s treasurer for the Ngaka Modiri Molema region.

Described as shy and soft-spoken, Carrim has emerged as a polarising figure, with some labelling him a greedy businessman who uses people as a stepping stone, while others describe him as a selfless community builder.

His key testimony at the Madlanga commission has been postponed multiple times — he has cited health issues, including an alleged heart attack — while evidence leaders, using geolocation data, have questioned the validity of his absences.

A final ruling has now been made that he will appear next Friday. He will only be legally excused from this physical appearance if an agreed-upon independent medical specialist evaluates him and formally certifies to the commission that he is medically unfit to give evidence.

Carrim’s involvement centres on a R360m SAPS tender awarded to Medicare24 and related financial transactions involving associates such as Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Brown Mogotsi.

He is likely to be quizzed on his alleged relationship with suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, suspicious financial flows and alleged political influence-peddling, as well as claims that he tried to stall or influence investigations into high-profile tenders.

At two previous brief appearances in February and March, Carrim told the commission that he lost millions after funding Medicare24, Matlala’s health-care company, alleging that both Matlala and Mogotsi misled him during the transaction.

Carrim said he provided R10m in funding to Matlala’s company but received only R1.75m in return. The contract was declared invalid in June last year because of procurement irregularities.

Carrim, who is director of the Fusion Tactical Team security company, said he met Matlala in June 2024 after Matlala requested funding for the health-care contract, saying his company had overcapitalised on a tender contract with the Ekurhuleni municipality.

Carrim said he knew Matlala through the security industry and visited the company’s premises before agreeing to the investment.

He said he also asked Mogotsi, an acquaintance from the North West, to confirm the validity of the tender contract, and that Mogotsi assured him the contract was legitimate.

Mogotsi has become a controversial figure at the commission, with senior police officials accusing him of playing middleman between criminal cartels and Mchunu.

“Brown advised that in order to keep Vusi I should inform Vusi that I have a direct and good relationship with [Mchunu] and his office. I advised Brown that this was a joke because I had no relationship with the minister or his office,” Carrim said.

He said Mogotsi sent him correspondence involving Mchunu, which he then forwarded to Matlala in an effort to convince him that the tender issue would be resolved. By that stage, however, the contract’s cancellation had already been reported in the media.

“It is clear that both of them were playing me. Much later I realised that Brown was misrepresenting his influence with the minister,” he said.

Mchunu confirmed to a parliamentary committee that he received a text message from Carrim. The message requested that Mchunu delay or stall investigations into procurement irregularities regarding the Medicare24 tender. Mchunu stated that he did not respond to the message.

Carrim was heavily implicated by four key witnesses who testified about corruption, criminal conduct and interference within the SAPS: Witness X, Mogotsi, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo and Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

In Mahikeng, everyone has a story about “Suli”.

A community leader who did not want to be named said: “I am not really into politics, but I have never gone to him asking for something and he refused to help me.”

Nine other locals who spoke to the Sunday Times also refused to be named, citing fear of reprisals from those who supported Carrim — and equally from those opposed to him.

“It’s easy to step on someone’s toes in Mahikeng because the town is very small and all of us rely on tenders,” said one man.

Carrim attended school in the nearby township of Mmabatho, beginning his education at Connie Motsamai Primary School before matriculating from Mmabatho High School in the former Bophuthatswana homeland.

Fluent in Setswana, he later ventured into politics after joining the ANC, becoming prominent during Mahumapelo’s premiership.

I personally know four people he bought cars for, who received a Mercedes minibus. But when Suli dumps you, it’s like everything vanishes with him

—  - Resident

His family business, Check Out, is a popular general dealer in the heart of Mahikeng, while Mpheko House, where the ANC has its provincial offices, was once one of his family’s properties.

ANC North West spokesperson Tumelo Maruping said the property was long ago donated by the Carrim family, which had been active in the struggle against apartheid.

“Suliman Carrim’s grandfather was a supporter of the ANC when the ANC was still a banned organisation during apartheid,” Maruping said.

Although Carrim was already involved in government tenders when Thandi Modise was premier, Mahumapelo is widely credited by political insiders with identifying Carrim and helping elevate him into a prominent figure in North West ANC politics.

Mahumapelo’s phone rang unanswered this week, and he did not respond to questions sent to him.

Today, Carrim is the registered director of 24 companies. He rarely drives himself and is often seen travelling with a security detail.

Some residents believe his open-wallet policy was all about buying influence and paving his way to the top. “I personally know four people he bought cars for, who received a Mercedes minibus. But when Suli dumps you, it’s like everything vanishes with him,” one resident said.

The Carrims are a high-profile business family in Mahikeng, with interests ranging from fast-food outlets and general dealerships to a resort.

A former municipal employee recalls an incident about a decade ago, when Carrim was still doing business with the Mahikeng Local Municipality. An angry Carrim arrived to enquire about an outstanding invoice. “Everything else stopped at the municipality. Officials were running around trying to make sure his invoice was expedited through the system.”

A current municipal employee told the Sunday Times that Carrim was “now playing in bigger leagues”.

“He’s no longer doing any work here [at Mahikeng], unless it’s under someone else’s name,” the employee said.