Brigadier Rachel Matjeng admits facilitating meeting between Matlala and Phahlane

By Johnathan Paoli

SAPS quality management section head Brigadier Rachel Matjeng has conceded that she facilitated meetings between her “boyfriend”, controversial health-services tender beneficiary Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, and former national police commissioner Johannes Khomotso “JK” Phahlane.

However, she insisted that her involvement stemmed from a personal relationship and not from any improper attempt to advance the interests of a service provider.

Appearing for her final day of testimony on Friday in front of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Matjeng insisted that she did not play a central role in facilitating the meetings.

“They did meet several times, but they arranged their own meetings without me being involved,” she said.

Pressed early in her testimony on why Phahlane would use her as an intermediary when he had Matlala’s direct contact details, Matjeng said the former commissioner only reached out through her “when he was struggling to get hold of Mr Matlala”.