Medicare24 CEO Mike van Wyk’s Madlanga Commission testimony postponed indefinitely

Medicare24 Group CEO Mike van Wyk’s scheduled appearance before the Madlanga Commission on Monday has been postponed indefinitely after his legal team informed the commission that he is currently medically unfit to testify.

Van Wyk was expected to appear before the commission, but his attorney, Sandy du Plessis, applied for a postponement, citing severe panic attacks. According to Du Plessis, Van Wyk’s psychiatrist recommended that he be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson told the commission that if Van Wyk is medically unfit, the commission would not insist on his appearance. He noted that the commission had considered an affidavit from Van Wyk’s psychiatrist and accepted that he was currently not fit to testify.

Despite the postponement, Chaskalson requested permission to place on record all the evidence that Van Wyk was due to be questioned on during his appearance. The commission agreed to proceed with this process.

Du Plessis informed the commission that her junior counsel was in the process of commissioning an affidavit and obtaining a medical certificate to support the application for postponement.

Commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga handed down a ruling that was agreed to by all legal teams. In terms of the ruling, Van Wyk’s appearance has been postponed sine die, meaning no new date has been set.

The commission further ordered that the evidence leaders proceed with placing all relevant evidence on record. Van Wyk has until 6 July to submit a supplementary statement. Should evidence leaders wish to recall him after reviewing the statement, they will be required to provide at least seven days’ notice.

Van Wyk is known to have close ties to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, whose name has featured prominently in matters before the commission.