Suspended Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams is back in the hot seat at the Madlanga Commission on Thursday, where his testimony is under intense scrutiny.

Adams has repeatedly claimed the late Major-General Andre Lincoln was his source for key information that led him to open criminal cases against senior Crime Intelligence officers.

But the evidence leaders and commissioners appear unconvinced by his account.

Adams said about 90% of the information he received came from Lincoln, whom he described as a trusted source.

The NCC leader had to concede that several statements in his affidavit appear to contradict each other. Among the claims is that Lincoln had allegedly told him General Dumisani Khumalo’s security clearance was “cooked” and “fraudulent”, although Adams acknowledged he could not independently confirm the allegation.

At one point, evidence leader Advocate Lee Seegels-Ncube bluntly told Adams: “You cannot rely on a dead man, Mr Adams.”

MADLANGA COMMISSION | “You cannot rely on a dead man every time,” Adv Segeels-Ncube tells Fadiel Adams, questioning his repeated reliance on the late Gen Lincoln to support key aspects of his testimony. pic.twitter.com/Wq60faqCD1

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 20, 2026

Life-long friend defends Lincoln

The testimony has prompted Professor Brian Williams, who describes himself as a lifelong friend, brother and comrade of Lincoln, to reject attempts to implicate the late general in Adams’ conduct.

Williams said he was concerned by statements in which Adams sought to attribute decisions and conduct to Lincoln, who died in May last year.

“I have noted with deep concern and dismay the statements reportedly made by Mr Fadiel Adams during his appearance before the Madlanga Commission, in which he has sought to implicate the late General Andre Lincoln in decisions and conduct attributed to Mr Adams.”

Williams said Lincoln had the utmost respect for General Nhlanhla Mkwanazi and would never have encouraged or condoned unlawful or unethical conduct.

“I therefore reject any attempt to portray him as having encouraged, facilitated or endorsed unlawful or unethical conduct,” he said.

Williams said Lincoln could no longer respond to the allegations or give his own version of events.

“His name should therefore not be invoked in a manner that unfairly attributes motives, decisions or conduct to him that he cannot personally address.”

Williams said Lincoln should instead be remembered for the life he lived, the principles he upheld and his contribution to South Africa.

He said he trusted the Madlanga Commission would carefully assess the evidence and make appropriate findings on the credibility and reliability of the testimony before it.

Adams also raised the ire of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith during testimony on Wednesday.

Adams repeated previous allegations he’s made against Smith, accusing him of orchestrating a hit on his life. Smith responded, saying Adams’ attempt to slander his name will only prove to the Commission how political interests can manipulate policing processes. Hill-Lewis described Adams as a “fantasist.”