By Johnathan Paoli
The ad-hoc committee’s third, and possibly the last day of hearings for the year, ended with tense exchanges between members of Parliament and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, whose shifting claims, lengthy criminal history, and alleged dealings with senior police figures came under aggressive scrutiny.
The session resumed after lunch with committee members challenging Matlala’s allegation that his cellphone had been tampered with while he was in custody.
Patriotic Alliance (PA) MP Ashley Sauls pressed Matlala to provide concrete proof, insisting that without evidence he could not accept the claim.
Matlala maintained that activity on the phone after his imprisonment on 14 May proved interference, but admitted he could not compare screenshots submitted to the committee with data on the device itself.
The sharpest interrogation came from Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Glynnis Breytenbach, who opened by highlighting Matlala’s extensive criminal history, a list of arrests and withdrawn cases stretching back to 2000, along with a single conviction.
When she asked how he had managed to be convicted only once, Matlala retorted: “Was I supposed to be convicted?” and insisted that all withdrawn matters were baseless.
Breytenbach challenged his long-standing associations with senior police officers, noting that even during her 26 years as a prosecutor and more than a decade in Parliament she had never had police generals “on speed dial”.
Matlala replied that some relationships arose from his business dealings.
He confirmed owning four licensed firearms, two 9mm pistols, a shotgun, and an assault rifle, and brushed aside questions about how he secured licences and registered a private security firm despite his record, arguing that his conviction had not been for a violent crime.
Turning to his relationship with former police minister Bheki Cele, Breytenbach questioned why Matlala described giving money to Cele as returning a favour.
When she asked whether he regarded this as corrupt, he answered,
“No,” later adding that Cele, not he, was corrupt.
Breytenbach insisted he was the “corruptor”.
Matlala grudgingly responded in the affirmative, but continued denying that the “facilitation fees” he paid were bribes.
The DA MP also grilled him on his links with individuals involved in drug manufacturing, on his KZN trips accompanied by heavily armed guards, and on claims that he sought to intimidate people through convoy-style movements.
She accused him of exploiting the poor through corrupt dealings, concluding: “You’re not a businessman, you’re a crook… Shame on you, sir”.
Matlala replied: “I don’t have any comments”.
ANC MP Xola Nqola questioned Matlala’s insistence that he had no personal relationship with former Gauteng Hawks boss General Shadrack Sibiya, pointing out that Matlala’s “right-hand man”, namely Sergeant Nkosi, attended Sibiya’s family events.
Matlala insisted: “Nkosi is not Sibiya,” and maintained that there was no personal connection.
Nqola introduced the term “Farmer Brown”, which appeared in WhatsApp messages, but Matlala said he did not know its meaning and dismissed suggestions of coded communication.
Nqola drilled into allegations about drug cartels, the timeline of Matlala’s leasing of a clinic later used by SAPS trainees, and the cancellation of the Medicare24 tender.
Matlala denied fronting, insisting he had sought the clinic three years earlier for student medical services.
He rejected suggestions that hiring Brigadier Petunia Lenono, who sat on committees awarding his tender, was a quid pro quo, calling such an action “very stupid”.
Nqola also raised claims that Cele and his allies, including Lieutenant-General Khumalo, had wanted to arrest KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mchunu.
Matlala said he was merely repeating what he had heard.
He added that KZN Hawks head General Senona had been present when Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi threatened him.
“I am not happy with [Cele],” he conceded, but insisted he was not lying about him.
uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) MP Sibonelo Nomvalo accused Matlala of threatening Mogotsi after the cancellation of the Medicare24 contract and pressed him on alleged kidnappings, links to Boshoga, and his dealings with senior officers.
Matlala blamed both Mogotsi and Cele for extorting him, alleging Cele influenced his arrest after he stopped making payments.
MKP MP Vusi Shongwe asked about his lack of qualification and how he became successful with only a matric, however Matlala said he did not regard himself as successful.
The meeting was formally adjourned after Correctional Services officials thanked Parliament for the opportunity to host the week’s proceedings.
Committee chair Lekganyane confirmed that, with the Speaker granting an extension to the committee’s deadline, this session “probably” marked the final sitting of the year, with work set to resume in 2026.
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