Hearing record

Day 123

22 June 2026

Day 123, 22 June 2026. Medicare24 Holdings chief executive Michael 'Mike' van Wyk was subpoenaed to appear before the Madlanga Commission but did not testify: his attorney Sandy du Plessis said he had suffered severe panic attacks and was being admitted for psychiatric care, and the commission accepted his medical affidavit and postponed his appearance. To avoid losing the day, chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC led the documentary evidence in his absence - WhatsApp chats, voice notes and videos between van Wyk, attempted-murder-accused tenderpreneur Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi. The evidence leaders submitted that a 6 April 2025 exchange ('get me a good price' / 'we'll go in at 250') over a video of 'Prestige'-branded one-kilogram bricks - forensically matched to blocks that tested positive for cocaine - points to an alleged drug deal, and that earlier chats show van Wyk seeking blue and red lights, EMPD branding, a memorandum of understanding and 'appointment cards' for a private specialised unit, alongside an exchange they read as a possible bribe. Van Wyk denies receiving the cocaine video and may file a supplementary affidavit by 6 July 2026. All allegations are untested; he is presumed innocent.