‘Cat’ Matlala stonewalls ad hoc committee, saying he fears self-incrimination

By Johnathan Paoli

Day two of Parliament’s ad hoc committee hearings at Kgosi Mampuru II Prison on Wednesday saw businessman and attempted-murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala repeatedly refuse to answer key questions.

He said his silence was to avoid incriminating himself, despite the committee’s assurances that his testimony was legally protected.

Advocate Norman Arendse (SC) told the committee that Matlala had agreed to appear voluntarily despite facing a pending attempted murder trial.

Arendse said that Matlala had not yet signed the statement he planned to rely on, but stressed that Parliament did not require an affidavit before testimony could begin.

While cooperative on biographical questions, confirming he grew up in Mamelodi-East, was raised by a single mother, and began in informal business, Matlala grew increasingly evasive as the questioning approached the cancelled R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) healthcare tender awarded to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.

Arendse repeatedly