Johnathan Paoli
Evidence leaders have challenged Medicare24 CEO Mike van Wyk’s denial that he received a WhatsApp video of cocaine bricks being weighed, after the Madlanga Commission heard it formed part of an authentic exchange with Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
The proceedings took place on Monday, when the commission engaged Van Wyk’s affidavit, despite his physical absence for medical reasons.
Chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC placed the documentary evidence before the commission and invited the commissioners to assess it ahead of Van Wyk submitting any supplementary affidavit.
Outlining WhatsApp conversations between Van Wyk and his attempted-murder accused business partner Matlala, the evidence leader said the video was part of a longer conversation that pointed to a suspected cocaine transaction.
“The chats reflect that it was sent from Mr Matlala to Mr van Wyk at 10:25 on the 6th of April. At 10:26, Mr Matlala sent Mr van Wyk a message saying, ‘Get me a good price’,” Chaskalson said.
He said that Van Wyk disputed ever receiving the video.
“Once again, I received the video recording from the enquiries I made to the commission and confirm that I never received this WhatsApp video on my cell phone,” Van Wyk’s statement read.
However, Chaskalson said investigators had traced the third party who originally sent the video to Matlala and confirmed the authenticity of the exchanges.
“The third party admits that he sent the video to Mr Matlala. He also admits that the WhatsApps exchanged by Mr Matlala and him are authentic,” he said.
Chaskalson said investigators had also recovered identical voice notes, including one stating “we’ll go in at 250”, from the third party’s phone.
He argued that allegations the material had been fabricated were implausible.
“We are informed that it’s not possible to plant a message or a media file into a WhatsApp chat record on an Apple iPhone 16 without leaving a trace that the file was amended at a later date,” he said.
In the footage, blocks of cocaine can be seen being placed on a scale, weighed and marked with a distinctive “Prestige” brand on the side.
According to an information note prepared by the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory, six one-kilogram blocks of cocaine seized in July 2025 tested positive for cocaine, with three bearing the same distinctive “Prestige” branding and crown logo visible in the WhatsApp video.
Chaskalson submitted that the commission could reasonably conclude the footage depicted cocaine.
The commission then turned to the draft memorandum of agreement between the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) and companies linked to Van Wyk and Matlala, including Medicare24 and Anubis Protection Services.
Chaskalson said the communications showed that the companies were seeking far more than a conventional emergency medical services partnership.
Playing a voice note sent by Van Wyk to suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, Chaskalson highlighted Van Wyk’s ambitions for a specialised operational unit.
“Our aim is to be a specialised unit for you guys. We don’t only just respond to medical emergencies, we can respond to riots. We can help with crime combating drug busts, because we know all the drugs,” Van Wyk said in the voice note.
In a reply played before the commission, Mkhwanazi said: “I agree with you 100%. But for now let us formalise with him… he may feel that he’s part of the process. But with him we’re not going to disclose everything.”
The proposed agreement envisaged Medicare24 personnel assisting with drug testing, drug busts, tactical medical operations, firearms support through Anubis Protection Services and legal advice during narcotics operations.
The EMPD section of the draft agreement also proposed that Medicare24 and Anubis personnel be trained as peace officers and that their vehicles be registered as official EMPD vehicles authorised to use blue and red emergency lights while responding on the municipality’s behalf.
Earlier in proceedings, Van Wyk’s legal representative, Sandy du Plessis, successfully sought a postponement after informing the commission that her client had suffered severe panic attacks.
She told the commission Van Wyk had consulted a psychiatrist on 17 June before his condition deteriorated.
According to Du Plessis, the psychiatrist recommended on Sunday that Van Wyk be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.
Van Wyk’s physical appearance was postponed sine die, but he has until 6 July to submit a supplementary affidavit responding to the evidence.
The commission continues.
INSIDE POLITICS
