The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a public call for National Coloured Congress leader and Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams to hand himself over to authorities, intensifying a high-profile legal standoff linked to the murder investigation of former ANC Youth League leader Sindiso Magaqa.

In a statement released on Wednesday, SAPS confirmed that its Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) is in possession of a J50 warrant of arrest for Adams. He is wanted in connection with allegations of fraud and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

According to police, the warrant stems from claims that Adams interfered with ongoing investigations into Magaqa’s murder, specifically involving contact with a convicted hitman at a “very sensitive and advanced stage” of the case.

Authorities say multiple attempts have been made to locate Adams, including visits to various addresses linked to him. Arrangements had reportedly been made through his legal representative for him to surrender at Cape Town Central Police Station on Monday, 4 May. However, SAPS says Adams failed to honour that agreement and did not present himself to the police.

He was also expected to appear before a KwaZulu-Natal court on the same day, but did not do so.

“Despite numerous attempts by SAPS to make contact with his legal representative, Adams has not made himself available,” police said, urging him to cooperate and present himself at the nearest police station without delay.

SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe reiterated the call, emphasising that no individual is above the law and that cooperation would be in Adams’ best interest.

The developments come amid escalating tensions between Adams and law enforcement following a controversial police raid at a property previously linked to him.

Adams has strongly denied wrongdoing and accused police of intimidation. Speaking during a media briefing at Parliament on Tuesday, he claimed that members of the PKTT conducted a raid at his former residence in Westridge in the early hours of Saturday morning, despite him no longer living there.

He further alleged that the operation, which he claims took place around 4 am, traumatised an innocent family currently residing at the property.

“The result of this is that an innocent teacher, a 30-year-old woman, had a firearm pointed at her face, her husband was forced to lie on the ground in the middle of winter, and her 12-year-old son was assaulted by someone claiming to be a police officer,” Adams said.

He added that the property had been transferred weeks earlier and criticised the task team’s handling of the operation.

“With a budget of hundreds of millions of rands, this unit cannot even get an address right,” he said.

Adams has since opened a case of intimidation, alleging that the raid was unlawful and accusing KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of orchestrating the operation.

“I will not be intimidated,” Adams said, maintaining that he had previously warned authorities against conducting aggressive operations at his home.

The situation now places Adams at the centre of a growing legal and political storm, with questions mounting over both the conduct of the police investigation and his failure to comply with instructions to surrender.

The case is expected to draw significant national attention, given its links to the Magaqa murder investigation — a case that has long highlighted concerns around political killings in South Africa.

SAPS has indicated that efforts to locate Adams will continue if he does not voluntarily present himself, raising the prospect of imminent arrest.