Parliament has directly challenged suspended MP Fadiel Adams’ claim that a faulty laptop contributed to his failure to respond to repeated requests from the Madlanga Commission, saying its records contain no evidence of the persistent technical problems he described.

Adams, leader of the National Coloured Congress (NCC), told the Commission on Tuesday that his Parliament-issued laptop had been giving him problems for about 18 months, frequently freezing and being sent for repairs.

He said the problems had affected his ability to access official correspondence and respond to the Commission’s requests for his affidavit.

But Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the institution’s ICT records painted a very different picture.

Mothapo said Parliament had reviewed its ICT Service Desk records following Adams’ testimony and found no record of a laptop that was persistently dysfunctional, repeatedly freezing or regularly being submitted for repairs.

“The records do not reflect any reported incident of persistent laptop malfunction, hardware failure, repeated freezing of the device, or the laptop being repeatedly submitted to ICT for repairs,” Mothapo said.

The sharp institutional rebuttal comes after Adams’ testimony was postponed to August 19 because he failed to submit his affidavit and supporting annexures to the Commission on time.

Evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson told Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga that the evidence leaders had been requesting Adams’ statement since October 25, 2025.

His affidavit and supporting documents were only received after 9pm on Monday, despite his scheduled appearance before the Commission on Tuesday morning.

Adams blamed his laptop problems for some of the delays, telling the Commission that the device froze daily and that this had affected his ability to receive and respond to correspondence.

He also said he only became aware about three months ago of a Rule 3 notice sent to him in October last year.

Madlanga appeared unconvinced by Adams’ explanation and questioned whether the alleged laptop problems had also affected his ability to receive correspondence from Parliament.

Adams confirmed that they had.

The chairperson then questioned how Adams could effectively discharge his responsibilities as an MP if his laptop was as unreliable as he claimed.

Parliament has now put its own records on the table.

According to Mothapo, the ICT matters logged against Adams during the relevant period consisted mainly of routine access and account-support issues.

These included a Windows password reset in January 2025, an ERP/Marang password reset in June 2025, assistance with logging into a device in July 2025, a Wi-Fi update in January 2026 and an ERP/Marang eDisclosure-related request in June 2026.

All the matters were recorded through Parliament’s ICT Service Desk and closed.

Mothapo said such matters were materially different from a laptop being technically dysfunctional or unavailable for an extended period.

“Parliament therefore has no ICT Service Desk record supporting the assertion that Adams’ parliamentary laptop was persistently dysfunctional for approximately 18 months in the manner described before the Commission,” he said.

Parliament also rejected any suggestion that Adams would have been left without access to technological tools necessary to perform his duties.

Mothapo said MPs were issued with multiple ICT devices, including a laptop, tablet and smartphone.

The arrangement, he said, was designed to ensure continuity of access and allow MPs to perform their constitutional responsibilities.

He added that established ICT support channels were available whenever a Member experienced a technical problem, while alternative Parliament-issued devices could provide access when another device was being repaired or attended to.

The institution was, however, careful not to comment on the substance of Adams’ evidence before the Commission.

Mothapo said Parliament’s clarification was confined to its own ICT and administrative records and should not be interpreted as a comment on the issues Adams is expected to testify about.

His eventual testimony is likely to be closely watched.

The Commission has previously heard evidence linking Adams’ complaints to investigations involving senior Crime Intelligence officials, including Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.

Former IDAC investigator Brian Padayachee told the inquiry that a fraud and corruption case against Khumalo arose from a complaint lodged by Adams.

The Commission has also heard evidence concerning Adams’ possession and disclosure of Crime Intelligence information, as well as his interactions with former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption head Advocate Andrea Johnson.

Adams is expected to give his version of these events when he returns to the witness stand on August 19.

For now, however, his laptop explanation has come under direct scrutiny from the very institution that issued the device.

And Parliament’s ICT records, according to Mothapo, do not back up the picture of an MP struggling for 18 months with a persistently malfunctioning parliamentary laptop.