Suspended Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams has declared his readiness to face trial following a brief appearance at the Pinetown Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Adams faces charges including defeating the ends of justice for allegedly conducting interviews with two awaiting-trial inmates, claiming it was part of his official parliamentary duties.
One of the inmates he visited was convicted hitman Sibusiso Ncengwa, who is serving a sentence for the murder of ANC Youth League leader Sindiso Magaqa. The other was former Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) sergeant Bonginkosi Dlamini, who was awaiting trial at the time and accused of accepting a R120,000 bribe to allegedly tamper with evidence in the murder of ANC branch leader Thulani Nxumalo.
The court has transferred Adams' case to the Pinetown Regional Court, where it is scheduled to be heard on September 11.
Speaking to the media outside court, Adams, who is the leader of the National Coloured Congress, questioned why his case was being heard in the regional court when it was a Schedule 1 (lesser) offence and had no prescribed minimum sentence.
He also criticised the PKTT, which arrested him earlier this year, arguing that officers should not have issued a warrant for his arrest because, he claimed, a Schedule 1 offence did not require one.
State advocate Nokulunga Ngcobo told the court that investigations had been finalised and asked that the matter be transferred to the regional court for trial.
Adams’ attorney, Donovan Moodley, told the court that the State had indicated that it would provide the defence with the docket within a week.
Adams said despite his legal team still waiting for the docket, they were ready for the trial.
“We’ve been ready for court before they started. But I can tell you this: once they provide further particulars, then it’s game on,” Adams said.
Adams also revealed that civil litigation relating to his arrest and detention was expected to be launched in Cape Town within the next two weeks.
Turning to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system, Adams said he was ready to testify before the commission on Wednesday.
He added that he had made the request to appear.
Adams is currently serving a 20-day suspension from Parliament under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act. He was found guilty by Parliament’s Ethics Committee for contravening Parliament's rules after he published an email containing details of DA members on Facebook.