By Johnathan Paoli
Tender tycoon Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala allegedly enjoyed protection and financial backing from senior police officials, according to testimony by Witness C before the Madlanga Commission.
Led by advocate Ofentse Motlhasedi, Witness C — a member of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) — implicated Deputy National Commissioner Shadrick Sibiya of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in a three-year tender deal worth R1.2 billion involving Matlala.
“In most cases, he will give Sergent Nkosi money transfers for his personal use, and for the general, he would summon Sergeant Nkosi to come and collect the packages for General Sibiya,” Witness C testified.
His work has seen probes into political assassinations, the University of Fort Hare corruption-linked murders, and several high-profile organised crime cases in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
Witness C claimed Matlala secured a R1.2 billion SAPS tender, with the assistance of KZN Hawks head Lesetja Senona; asserting that he paid kickbacks to senior officers through a certain “Sergeant Nkosi”, whom he described as a courier, showing commissioners a screenshot of Nkosi’s ABSA account and claimed Crime Intelligence’s Khan “regularly used” his Menlyn Main penthouse.
Witness C confirmed that he joined the PKTT in 2020 as a certified forensic investigator specialising in fraud and corruption.
In late 2024, he was redeployed to Gauteng’s counterintelligence team following threats to investigators working on the murder of engineer Armand Swart, who was shot 23 times in what police now believe was a mistaken-identity killing.
Upon joining the unit, Witness C said he was introduced to Witness A and Witness B, both under 24-hour protection after receiving threats linked to their work.
They alleged obstruction within SAPS, including interference by senior officers, bribery attempts, and direct threats to investigators’ lives.
On 3 December 2024, Witness C was assigned two new dockets, the kidnapping of businessman Jerry Boshoga and the abduction of a mother and son.
Intelligence suggested that Boshoga, a known associate of Matlala, was being held at the businessman’s luxury mansion in Centurion.
A Crime Intelligence profile compiled three days later revealed Matlala’s history of alleged criminal involvement, prompting a high-risk raid involving about 20 combat officers and members of the Special Task Force (STF).
The STF, Witness C explained, was deployed for its hostage negotiation expertise, as police believed Boshoga might be inside the house.
During the search, officers encountered a Malawian domestic worker who claimed Matlala was not home.
However, in one of the upstairs rooms, police discovered a torn white sheet tied to a window, identical to the one seen in ransom videos sent to Boshoga’s family.
Further searches uncovered two pistols and two rifles held without a firearm safe, in violation of the Firearms Control Act.
The firearm permits bore digital signatures, which Witness C said could be manipulated to falsify records.
According to Witness C, Matlala initially cooperated but quickly began boasting about his influence.
He handed over a firearm and phone voluntarily, saying he “knew why” police were there, to find the missing mother and son.
“He said he was close to high-profile SAPS officials. He named Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, General Feroz Khan, General Richard Shibiri, and said he was related to General Lesetja Senona,” Witness C testified.
Matlala alleged that he was in constant communication with then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, and had been due to meet him later that night through a mutual acquaintance, Brown Mogotsi.
Although police later confirmed that Matlala’s tender was valued at R326 million, not R1.2 billion, Witness C said his claims reflected a “sense of protection” within the SAPS hierarchy.
The witness then described how Matlala’s confiscated phones were handed over for forensic extraction on 8 December, only for technicians to report days later that the devices were not downloadable.
The phones were inexplicably returned to Matlala, who later told police he burnt them, fearing they were bugged.
Witness C testified that while detained at Groenpunt Prison, Katiso Molefe somehow obtained a confidential affidavit from Witness B’s file.
Prison records later showed that Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu, Acting Sedibeng District Commissioner, had visited Molefe after hours, posing as his brother-in-law and bringing him clothing and food.
Correctional officials confirmed that Nkhwashu’s car had no number plates during the visit.
CCTV footage presented to the Commission confirmed his presence that night.
Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, reiterated directions to media representatives covering proceedings at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College.
Cameras, he warned, may not capture Commission staff devices or non-public information, though he acknowledged the vital role of journalists in ensuring transparency.
The commission continues after lunch, with Witness C expected to resume testimony.
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