By Johnathan Paoli
Controversial businessman and corruption and attempted-murder accused Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala has admitted that he and alleged syndicate kingpin Hangwani Morgan Maumela were friends and business associates who pooled millions of rands to pursue government contracts.
Appearing before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, Matlala initially refused to answer questions about his relationship with Maumela, citing his alleged status as a suspect in a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation.
The commission established that the document Matlala had relied on was not an SIU investigation report but a Special Tribunal order freezing assets allegedly linked to the Maumela syndicate.
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Matlala maintained that the order had led him to believe he was under investigation, although he conceded that no investigator had ever approached him about the Tembisa Hospital matter.
Commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga questioned the basis of Matlala’s assertion that the business arrangement itself demonstrated criminality.
“Nothing immediately tells me from where I’m sitting that there is criminality about that. I’m not saying there isn’t. But sitting where I am, nothing jumps out of your testimony,” he said.
Madlanga also challenged the inference that Matlala was a suspect simply because his companies were mentioned in the Special Tribunal proceedings.
The chairperson said Matlala’s conclusion represented a “leap in logic”, stressing that the tribunal order concerned assets linked to the alleged Maumela syndicate and did not, on its own, establish that Matlala was a suspect.
The SIU’s investigation centres on allegations surrounding the procurement of contracts at Tembisa Hospital.
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According to evidence before the commission, 41 suppliers or service providers were traced to Maumela, while three companies awarded contracts worth R13.5 million in the alleged syndicate were linked to Matlala.
Asked about his relationship with Maumela, Matlala said they first met around 2015 or 2016 and bonded over their shared interest in luxury sports cars.
“That’s where we started our relationship because of the love of cars,” Matlala said.
Their relationship later extended into business, with Matlala telling the commission that they invested money into projects and shared profits.
The government contracts they pursued involved medical consumables for the Gauteng Department of Health.
Matlala said requests for quotations had been issued to his and Maumela’s companies, with the last such request coming in about 2018 or 2019.
Matlala said that he and Maumela would pool their money and deposit it into the account of a medical supplier before attempting to secure a request for quotations.
According to his account, the supplier would then provide goods that could be used to meet the requirements of the government contract.
Once the department paid, the invested money would be returned and profits shared.
Matlala said Maumela would receive 10% of the profits.
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Evidence leader Mahlape Sello asked Matlala how the business operated and why substantial sums were being channelled through third-party suppliers.
Matlala said the arrangement involved regular contributions of between R2 million and R4 million, although he could not immediately calculate the total amount involved.
He also confirmed that there was no written agreement between himself and Maumela governing the arrangement.
Matlala also told the commission about his links to the late taxi boss Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi, whom he said was a client of his security company, Cat VIP, rather than a business associate.
He said Maumela knew Msibi through him, mainly because Msibi had shown an interest in a sports car Maumela was selling.
Matlala said Maumela was often with him when he visited Msibi, but insisted he was not aware of any relationship or exchange of money between the two men.
However, the commission was shown evidence of payments of more than R4 million to an account associated with Agrippa Khoza, with “M Maumela” appearing as the reference.
Matlala said he had received proof of one R4 million payment from Maumela and appeared to have sent it to Msibi, but could not remember what the money was for.
“It’s very difficult for me to justify something that I don’t remember,” he said.
Matlala was also questioned about an aircraft purchase agreement that Msibi sent him on WhatsApp in October 2020.
He said the aircraft was relevant to the security services he provided to Msibi, but claimed he later “lost interest” in buying it.
Matlala said he did not view the aircraft because he discovered it was not in good condition and maintained that it did not belong to Msibi.
The commission continues.
