From EFF’s Malema to ANC’s Carrim — the politics permeating SA’s cop collusion scandal

South Africa is on the brink of local elections. Meanwhile, the lines between various politicians, allegedly dodgy characters and suspicious activities have blurred more than ever. Take the EFF’s Julius Malema, who is familiar with the now-fired Crime Intelligence cop Feroz Khan. Then there’s ANC-supporting Suliman Carrim, recently arrested in a car smuggling case.

Never has the line separating suspected gangsterism from governance been so flimsy and transparent in South Africa.

Their names have been emerging as South Africa heads towards next week’s local government elections. Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is a central figure in South Africa’s law enforcement.

Suliman Carrim appears in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on 16 October 2026. Six days later, Carrim was added as an accused in a money laundering and theft case involving two others. According to the National Prosecuting Authority: “It is alleged that Carrim, acting in collusion with his official — claims Malema denies.”

For his part, Malema denied any involvement in unlawful activities that the Khan and Sayed messages may have implied were linked to him. At the parallel parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating the infiltration scandal, Malema had gl.