By Johnathan Paoli
Attempted-murder-accused tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala is due to testify before the Madlanga Commission on Monday and Tuesday after his appearance was brought forward from 1 September.
The controversial businessman first appeared briefly before the commission via video link on 7 July, when his testimony was postponed to 15 July. He appeared in person on 15 July but did not testify.
Commission chair Mbuyiseli Madlanga postponed his evidence to 1 September after Matlala’s advocate, Anneline van den Heever, raised concerns about his constitutional rights as a potential accused and the documents surrounding his collapsed plea-and-sentence agreement.
The decision to bring his evidence forward puts Matlala at the centre of the commission’s proceedings at a significant moment in his criminal cases.
He pleaded guilty in June to fraud, corruption and money-laundering charges linked to the R228 million SAPS Medicare24 health-services tender, under which about R50 million was paid before the contract was cancelled.
He had entered into a Section 105A plea-and-sentence agreement and agreed to cooperate with the state and give evidence against others implicated in the case.
However, the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court rejected the agreed effective eight-year sentence as too lenient and proposed an effective 12-year term.
Rather than accept the heavier sentence, Matlala withdrew from the agreement on 13 July.
The court subsequently declared the agreement null and void, with the guilty plea and sentencing falling away.
His fraud, corruption and money-laundering case has been postponed to 11 September for trial.
The evidence he may give before the commission will unfold against the backdrop of these criminal charges.
Matlala is on trial with four co-accused on 25 charges arising from three alleged assassination attempts. He faces, among other charges, conspiracy to commit murder and 11 counts of attempted murder, as well as fraud and money laundering.
The case involves multiple incidents related to a failed assassination attempt on his former girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, amongst others.
Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo identified Matlala as an alleged member of the “Big Five” criminal network during his testimony before the commission, although he placed Matlala and businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe at the lower end of the syndicate.
Evidence and allegations presented to the commission have also connected Matlala to several strands of the broader investigation, including alleged financial flows, WhatsApp communications and dealings involving senior police figures and other businessmen.
Spokesperson Jeremy Michaels previously described arrangements for Matlala’s appearance as “extremely sensitive”.
Matlala’s appearance comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the commission’s timetable, allowing it to hear evidence until 2 October before submitting its final report on 16 November.
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