The Story of Sindiso Magaqa, The R37 Million Tender and Fadiel Adams

Added: 2026-05-08

[00:00:00]Just before you ask me a question, I just want to make a statement >> that the PKT has entered the parliamentary precinct.

[00:00:07]>> They are inside here.

[00:00:09]>> Believe it or not, >> you must understand that the executive holds no right over the legislative.

[00:00:15]They don't they don't belong here.

[00:00:16]That's why you have parliamentary police. Parliamentary police is allowing them.

[00:00:21]>> I'm not going to fight this.

[00:00:23]>> We're going to do this. Come. I'll see you soon.

[00:00:27]>> The man in the video is Fredo Adams. He is a member of parliament representing the national colored congress. Fel is one of those MPs who you probably have forgotten about because even though he was once a prominent social activist advocating for the rights of klet people in our country and fighting crime and gangsterism especially in Cape Town years before he was in parliament and also served for the democratic alliance.

[00:00:49]He has not been very vocal in the past years until recently when he appeared at the ad hoc committee and he was in the stand off. Can I talk?

[00:00:58]>> But you are derailing Mr. Adams.

[00:01:00]>> No, I'm trying to get to my point.

[00:01:02]Honorable James, you speak for 5 minutes. You want me to respond in 5 seconds. Can the math math, please?

[00:01:08]Please.

[00:01:09]>> Honorable Adams, you're not going to eat into my time.

[00:01:12]>> But I'm not you.

[00:01:13]>> I really patient with you, >> honorable Adams. I put it to you that the last time >> you're not going to talk to me like I'm Cat Matala. Sorry. Because your Adams girl Adams girl the difference here. Uh-uh.

[00:01:26]>> There's a difference here. You're not going to go screaming cuz I'm going to be >> So, I'm not sure why you're so defensive today.

[00:01:31]>> Honorable James and Honorable.

[00:01:33]>> No. Why? Because I'm trying to get question.

[00:01:37]>> Refusing to answer.

[00:01:38]>> Honorable Honorable James.

[00:01:42]>> Wait.

[00:01:42]>> The only woman that screams at me is the one I sleep with.

[00:01:45]>> Stop screaming at you.

[00:01:48]>> Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

[00:01:51]Following this interaction, his name popped up in the news more often than ordinarily. There was a time also in parliament where he had another standoff with Kunal police commissioner General Dantamas and arrive in pretor the following day my wife gives birth cesarian section and she stays in a hospital Mr. Adams and she gets out the following day with the stitches in her stomach. I put her in that X5, Mr. Adams. I drive with her and that toddler, one year old, for 1,000 kilometers, Mr. Adams.

[00:02:33]And I leave her with a family.

[00:02:36]I go to the airplane. I fly back to Deon. I'm not there with a child.

[00:02:42]I left them like that's a sacrifice that I don't think anyone would ever make.

[00:02:47]That's what I contributed.

[00:02:49]in this July unrest. So, so when I present these things, it sounded as if I'm arrogant before the human right commission, but I was giving the facts.

[00:03:00]I was telling the minister that the soldiers don't have equipment to do the work. You're calling them to come to Cape Town. I don't know what they using to work in Cape Town because they don't have tens to sleep on.

[00:03:13]Thank you, Ch.

[00:03:15]>> This interaction also went viral. And then this past weekend from Saturday, May 2, Fidel's name was in the media once again. And this time, it seems that things are a bit more serious because a home he used to own was reportedly raided by the police. They were looking for him at around 4:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. And the police did not find him at this home in Michelle's plane in Cape Town. And this is not bizarre. The police have been raiding a lot of homes in the past few months. And these raids are mostly carried out by a special police team, the political toss team, also known as the PKTT. And this team has been investigating very serious cases in the country. They have raided the homes of very controversial people.

[00:03:54]But this man here, Fido, is a member of parliament. He is a crime fighter. So what on earth does the PKTT want from him? Well, this moment here is where fighter's apparent toxic relationship with the PKTT became very clear. What I shared on Facebook was relating to the Cinda case. That is one case that is very close to my heart whereby I referred people to Mr. People who had information about case I referred them to Mr. And the reason why is that the hitman who shot Cindaga send a message through another person to me to say I must please assist him because he wants to make a confession and plead guilty but he's not getting assistance from the commander of the from the investigation officer. He's not getting assistance from from the prosecutor. He have been trying to plead guilty since 2019 but he's not getting any joy. I must please assist him. As a result thereof I send a message to to Gabind and to honorable Fadil Adams and we will get back to this but first let's take it back. Actually let's take it to another province all together.

[00:05:25]Meet comrade Cindi Soma.

[00:05:29]I I am humbled because uh when the EFF was formed, I knew the process and I said to myself, comrades, I can't give you solutions to the problem that you are You ma you are expelled in the NC and you are asking me to give you an option if you don't take this route of not opening a political party and I didn't have an answer to give him because he was expelled in the ANC and there were a lot of things that were happening but I said to myself When I joined this organization, I joined this organization 18 years ago.

[00:06:35]I joined this organization from the dusty street of Zimulu when I was still at school.

[00:06:44]It was not because I was in any position or I was eager to be I was still a student but is because I believe to the ideas of this movement and this movement have shaped me.

[00:07:03]This movement have brought me up to be who I am today. This movement has contributed in my life in a manner that today I am a better person than before.

[00:07:17]Then I said to myself, comrades.

[00:07:22]I wish you well.

[00:07:25]I will stay here because this is my political home. I was born here.

[00:07:36]Sinata was a passionate and outspoken young leader from EBCU in Guazulad. He rose to national prominence as a secretary general of the ANC youth league. This is where he built a reputation for being bold, disciplined, and unafraid to challenge authority.

[00:07:52]Even within his own political party, the ANC, Cindis' political journey began at grassroots level. Like many young activist, he was drawn into politics through student and youth structures aligned with the ANC. Over time, his leadership skills and strong opinions helped him climb the ranks very quickly.

[00:08:09]He served as the party's youth league secretary general from June 2011 to April 2012. And this was when he was found guilty of misconduct and suspended from the party. This was at the same time with the then youth league president Julius Malim, the league spokesperson Fred Shivamboo, deputy President Ronald Lamola, treasury general Bula Mab, Deputy Secretary General Guini Masunori were also in the leadership of the youth league and together with Cindis they were all found guilty by the ANC's national disciplinary hearing of ill discipline and undermining the ruling party's leadership. They were suspended for interrupting the party's leadership meeting after they rocked up at the meeting uninvited. Additionally, Cindiso was found guilty of bringing the party into disrepute by publicly condemning national executive committee member and South Africa's then Minister of Public Enterprise Maluigi Gab. Cindiso was sentenced to an 18-month suspension from the party which in turn was suspended for 3 years. He was also ordered to make a public apology to Malusi within 5 days. suspended youth league secretary also used the opportunity to attack Zuma's administration.

[00:09:17]We must never we must never allow to be led by privates.

[00:09:28]People will tell us that the issue is closed.

[00:09:32]You are told about being there in the private authorities when the chief spoke on the key. When he returned after his suspension, Sinister took up local politics at his hometown in Umsu and this would define his final years. As a local counselor, Sinisu became increasingly vocal about issues affecting his community, especially allegations of corruption and misuse of municipal funds. He positioned himself as someone willing to speak out even when it made him unpopular or put him at risk. To some, he was a courageous whistleblower. To others, a disruptive force within local power structures. But one thing was very clear. Sunnis wasn't someone who stayed silent. And in the end, that might have cost him his life.

[00:10:17]>> I sleep and c every day in my life. I have spent the entire life in the structure of the ANC.

[00:10:32]It was for the first time when I was elected in the national executive committee to to be with someone who is at my age.

[00:10:45]I have been in the RC since 1998.

[00:10:51]started to be an RC member 1998 I joined the youth league in 1997 and I became the chairperson of the brand the following year I was elected to the RC >> now let's talk about the um Kuru local municipality and this is where Cindisa was the local counselor and to make it make sense let's first talk about the youth league leaders around this time you have heard their names this era of the youth league was different they were not afraid if you think about it you might call them a crop that had the people's interest in their minds at the time. And their group would be the last one that stood on business when it came to youth matters.

[00:11:39]I don't know.

[00:11:52]Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

[00:11:56]Africa.

[00:12:08]And again, if you think about it, there was never the youth league after them.

[00:12:12]And this is because they challenged their own party's authority where it did not make sense to keep quiet. And this kind of attitude is what Cindiso took with him when he downgraded to local politics after him and his comrades were dealt with at the national level. And let's go back to local municipality.

[00:12:29]Siniso was regarded as a problem when he got to the municipality. He questioned things especially when the people's money was being used for things it was not meant for like in 2017 when he found out about an irregular tender to refurbish themsulu memorial hall at the municipality. He uncovered that there was alleged corruption involving a municipal tender that ballooned from 4 million rand to 37 million rand. In late 2016 passed on documentation that allegedly proved the corruption through the hogs.

[00:12:59]He allegedly learned that contractors involved in the upgrade which has still not been completed were paid before starting work with the cost spiraling to 37 million rand. They said the hole was built and destroyed and then it was built again and they said this was because the first contractor had failed to build it properly. Initially the project was awarded to Loiso Consultant Civils and the project was supposed to be finished by 2015. Louisa Consultant Civils was already paid 10 million rand when a second contractor Buya Construction was appointed in 2016 to complete the work. None of the work which was paid for was done when Cindy So blew the whistle in 2017. The public protector busi later launched a probe into the fifth project and she found that there were indeed irregularities in how the contracts were awarded to Louisiso consultant civils and to buya construction. They say Cindisa had been vocal about the contract and he made officials in the municipality very uncomfortable. And in addition, he reportedly also discovered nearly 80 ghost employees in the Herala district municipality.

[00:14:09]On July 13, 2017, Cindisa was inside his car with two local counselors Jabum and Lafa. Two inab knew that there was a target on his head. They say on the day he saw the two Ingabies approaching. He told Jabu and Nono to sit still and not get out of the car. The Ingabies then shot at the car more than 20 times. Cindiso was critically wounded. He was admitted to hospital and he was under strict security guard but 2 months later on September 4 he died in hospital.

[00:14:49]Jaba and Nuna survived the shooting but they were badly injured and years after that there would be a very critical voice in fighting for Cindiso's justice.

[00:14:58]They told authorities that Cindiso was a whistleblower and that he was questioning officials at the municipality on the case about the whole tender. They said just days before he was shot he was about to open criminal cases against two officials from the municipality. The way they killed Magaja, it was heartless.

[00:15:18]And Maga was also a highprofile politician in case that nationally a friend of mine when he died. Mubala rushed to the family and said Malma must not come here and speak. They refused me to go and bury him. I never buried my friend Mata. refused by you journalist of Ket and Gwen listened to the speeches in that Magaka's funeral.

[00:15:45]Lamola said they are going to open a trust for Magaka's children. Pul said they going to open a trust for Maga's children. All of those children that those people who denied me to come and a friend all of them are doing nothing for those kids. Those kids are on my shoulders.

[00:16:07]I never took a platform. I never took a speech and say I'll look after Magata's.

[00:16:13]I I'm doing it genuinely out of my own valution because I know Magata would have wanted me to be at his funeral. He would have been at my funeral had I passed on before him. But political opportunism took over, hijacked his funeral, never found the killers and never followed any of the things they said.

[00:16:39]The PKT was put on the case. In 2018, several suspects were taken into custody. This included the Inkabi and individuals linked to local government structures. Among them was Cibui, who would later confess to being one of the shooters on the day. Please remember this name. He is the reason why we are here today. So years passed and the case dragged on. In 2025, a major breakthrough came when Subuzu was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. This after admitting he carried out the hit and even naming others who were involved.

[00:17:13]>> One conspiracy to commit murder. You are sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

[00:17:24]Count two murder. You are sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. Count three, attempted murder. You are sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Count four, attempted murder. You are sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Count five, attempted murder. You are sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Count six, malicious injury to property. You are sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. Count seven, malicious injury to property. You are sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. Count eight, malicious injury to property. You are sentenced to three years imprisonment. Count nine, unlawful possession of a fully automatic firearm.

[00:18:02]You are sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Count 10, unlawful possession of a firearm. You are sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Count 11, unlawful possession of ammunition, you are sentenced to one year imprisonment.

[00:18:19]The sentences in counts 1 3 to 11 are to run concurrently with the sentence in count two.

[00:18:28]>> Sibus in his confession said he was paid 120,000 rand for Cindiso's murder and he was promised lucrative tenders in the municipality for this. He said it was him and other inabis involved in this.

[00:18:41]He also pointed at the kulu city manager Zulipan's kosana the mayor Lule Gindob a former journalist and ate municipality communications manager Dalini as the masterminds in the murder. He said they hired him and other inabis to shoot and kill Sinisu. He said they were never given details as to why the masterminds needed him dead but he said they mentioned that he was giving them problems at the municipality. Cibuis also said that on the day of the hit they were supplied with guns and a car and this was allegedly by members of the crime intelligence unit. He also said that on the day they were safely guarded in and out of the area by police officers who also part of the hit and Cibus's confession is supported in this leaked voice call recording between the inabis and the alleged masterminds.

[00:19:32]God.

[00:19:59]So, Who speech. Speech. Speech.

[00:20:54]for Mhm.

[00:21:36]Land order.

[00:21:52]Fore ass.

[00:22:20]foreign.

[00:22:24]So yeah.

[00:22:55]Then why are you honor?

[00:23:14]I think then 300. Yes.

[00:23:37]I know.

[00:23:47]ES.

[00:24:24]Yes.

[00:24:39]Yes.

[00:25:02]So Yes.

[00:25:28]Yes.

[00:25:43]Yeah.

[00:25:58]Yes.

[00:26:01]So Yeah, we have really mad.

[00:26:28]Yeah.

[00:26:53]And once again, Cebu's version would be corroborated years later by this testimony at the Madlanga Commission.

[00:26:59]And during this testimony we heard that Cindis's murder was reported to the powers that be days earlier and it could have been prevented but it was not.

[00:27:08]>> Uh I want to answer this question in this fashion.

[00:27:12]One of the killers is late now. He was an informant handled by us by our office.

[00:27:20]>> I saw that in your state >> which is the office of >> saw just a minute just a minute witness.

[00:27:25]I saw that either in your statement or in one of your annexures. I saw that I'm asking you a different question and my question is >> when those that were going to kill Mr. Maga told you about the plot, >> did they also tell you that in carrying out the plot they were going to be assisted by the people whose names you gave to the minister? It's a very >> They gave you those names.

[00:27:57]>> Yes.

[00:27:58]>> Yes. And you say correct.

[00:27:59]>> And you say these people were your superiors.

[00:28:05]>> Yes, sir.

[00:28:06]>> And you say you could have pres prevented Mr. Maka's murder if something had been done between the time you were told uh of the plot or about the plot and the time when Mr. Maka was actually killed. Not. So >> that's correct.

[00:28:27]>> And you then um All right.

[00:28:33]The superiors that you reported to from the answers you've given thus far, I assume are the same superiors whom you were told about by those who advised you of the plot. Correct.

[00:28:54]That's correct. Chair, >> and were you serious about wanting to uh prevent Mr. Mara's murder?

[00:29:05]>> I did everything in my power, child.

[00:29:07]>> Were you serious about wanting to prevent the murder?

[00:29:12]>> I was serious, Ch.

[00:29:14]>> And you report to the very people whom you've been told are going to assist in the murder?

[00:29:22]They are very senior chair in Kazen.

[00:29:25]I I I I spoke to them so that we can block the matter. But there is >> you report you report with a view to preventing the murder and you report to the very people whom you've been told are actually going to assist with the murder.

[00:29:51]I want to answer this question but the question is is confusing.

[00:29:57]There's nothing confusing uh about the question. Nothing confusing at all.

[00:30:02]>> Please answer it.

[00:30:04]>> Okay. Okay. When I get the when I got the information, I reported the information to the people who were going to assist. But those people at the time they didn't know that they will be asked to assist.

[00:30:22]The informer spoke to me alone and then I related the message to my commander to my immediate commander in a level of a captain. I won't mention the name but then at the time my superiors didn't know that the hitman will ask them for assistance. Number two, the equipment that was going to be used in the killing of Magaka came from the very same superiors.

[00:30:48]>> So following his confession, Cebuisa was already saving time in prison for a robbery case at the time and he was convicted for Sinis's murder in 2025.

[00:30:56]And it was also revealed that the Inkabi he was with on the day, the one who was initially accused of being the shooter while shot and killed by the police during another incident where he was involved in a cation transit heist. So as it stands only one man the enabo was sentenced to 85 years in prison for cindiso's murder. Mullebe the former mayor has passed on. Another incabi was declared unfair to stand trial and the other accused city managers kosana and are still in court for their alleged roles in Cindiso's murder.

[00:31:33]number of stateing offic.

[00:32:00]Big question here is what does Fidel Adams have to do with anything? Well, let's go back here. I I share information on on Facebook, but I never submitted a complaint. What I shared on Facebook was relating to the Cinda case. That is one case that is very close to my heart whereby I referred people to Mr. people who had information about case I referred them to Mr. And the reason why is that the heatman who shot Cindaga send a message through another person to me to say I must please assist him because he wants to make a confession and plead guilty but he's not getting assistance from the commander of the from the investigation officer. He's not getting assistance from from the prosecutor. He have been trying to plead guilty since 2019 but he's not getting any joy. I must please assist him. As a result thereof I send a message to to Sed Gabind and to honorable Fadil Adams.

[00:33:18]Honorable Fadil Adams traveled to KZN to the prison. He got a statement. The hitman did inform me to say they don't want to allow me to plead guilty and the lawyer that they are using they are paying the lawyer the lawyer also don't want to allow me can you please assist me to get another lawyer because I want to plead guilty I want my trial to be separated from the trial of my co-acused I was almost poisoned these people want to kill me as a result thereof married has and other people arrange some donations. I even have a letter to that effect to pay for the lawyer to represent the hitman and that is how he manage to go to court get separated made a confession plead guil.

[00:34:11]I then also after that he told me say my lawyer refused me to stand up in court so that I can name the the the people who ordered the hedons in this. He said I am still not done the and I have watches between me and the lawyer where the lawyer told me to say no no no no he is going to stand up in court he is going to to to name the kingpins. After that I asked the lawyer but you said the lawyer said no no no no that is the best I could do could do. Another lawyer told me he said you the lawyer was afraid because someone threatened him to say he should not allow the heatman to stand up and name the kingpin behind the murder of Makaga. I I have the everything's on my phone. I can keep my phone you download everything.

[00:35:03]Everything is there.

[00:35:05]At the ED committee earlier this year, former police officer, attend whistleblower Patricia Marella Morgan said that she tipped Fidel and told him that Ning Gabby in Cindiso's case has reached out to her and wants to confess and this would be. So Patricia told Fidel that Subisu is not being allowed to confess. He said he was being blocked. So then after being given this information by Patricia, this is what Fidel says he did >> of what happened there. This kid was killed >> for standing up against corruption >> in Kerin.

[00:35:36]>> I spoke to the killer.

[00:35:38]>> Spoke to I went into prison.

[00:35:40]>> Says we were escorted to and from the scene by the South African police services.

[00:35:44]>> Sure.

[00:35:45]>> This is also in the statements.

[00:35:46]>> I've got the statement. He made the statement to me.

[00:35:49]>> But you see the issue here is even though he might have good intentions and might have helped in the way that he did, the police say Fidel interfered. he had no capacity and as such he is charged with interfering with police investigations into Cindiso's murder. So um police investigations are still ongoing. H you will recall that the hitman was sentenced and convicted to 85 years in prison and they are still outstanding suspects because the investigation is at a very sensitive and advanc stage. Uh but during our investigations, we then um find out that Mr. Fedel Adams has been going uh to to uh prison um to visit this hitman, taking down statements. At one point, the statements were all over social media. Now, on in what capacity was Mr. Fatal Adams um visiting this particular hitman knowing very well that there is a dedicated team that is investigating this particular h case knowing very well that Mr. Fatal Adams has an instructing lawyer. He should have gone through his lawyer because his lawyer obviously has all those statements and so on in what capacity really because he is not an investigator. He's not a member of the political test killings test team that is already working on that particular case. So this is an opportunity really for Mr. Fatal Adams to tell the court and to tell the nation h what he was doing h visiting a convicted and sentenced hitman. And we we know that it was months before the hitman was sentenced and convicted because he was convicted on the 7th of July 2025. And according to our investigations, the visits or to the hitman started in November 2024 up until January 2025. So we we we deem this as interference because you are not an investigator.

[00:37:53]You're not a detective working on that particular case. And if you took a statement, what were you doing with that particular statement if that if you did not hand over that statement to the team h that was working on that case? um maybe perhaps he wanted to assist the investigating team with their work but then why did you not hand over that statement to the team that is investigating that particular case if really Mr. Adams wanted to assist h with investigations >> so they went to the home in Michelle's plane looking for him they did not find him he was told to hand himself over to the police and then on Tuesday Fidel was arrested and he is expected to appear in Guazulun I need a copy of the water.

[00:38:40]>> They they are refusing to give us a copy of the water.

[00:38:43]>> I need a copy of the water.

[00:38:44]>> No, but you asked for a copy.

[00:38:45]>> We asked for a copy.

[00:38:46]>> He is walking with them.

[00:38:48]>> No, we need to attorney attorney.

[00:38:53]>> Our attorney is waiting on us.

[00:38:55]>> Our attorney is waiting on a copy of it.

[00:38:58]>> No, I'm going to give you the copy now.

[00:39:02]But attorney No, they do have the cop.

[00:39:05]Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[00:39:09]>> Are you getting a little bit worried over there? I think you should. Guys, I'm about to be assaulted.

[00:39:16]I'm probably going to get waterboarded.

[00:39:19]This is how it works. I'm telling you what's going to happen. But let them do their worst.

[00:39:23]>> How do you feel now being arrested by your I know you said previously um in your young ears you you did >> I probably needed a holiday anyway.

[00:39:30]>> What are your thoughts on this case?

[00:39:32]Let's talk in the comments. Thank you so much for watching. Please stay safe. I will see you on the next one.