By Johnathan Paoli
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has denied claims at the Madlanga Commission linking him to tender kingpin and murder-accused Pretoria businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, rejecting as false police sergeant Fannie Nkosi’s assertion that they were due to meet.
In a statement, Mashatile said he had no connection to Matlala and was responding to allegations made during Nkosi’s testimony before the commission
“Deputy President Mashatile categorically rejects Sergeant Nkosi’s claims and is prepared to cooperate with the Madlanga Commission fully should the Commission require any clarity or assistance from him,” according to Keith Khoza, acting spokesperson to Mashatile.
“Deputy President Mashatile categorically denies the claims. Of significance is that the Deputy President does not know the individuals referenced in the testimony and has never had any association or dealings with them.”
The statement further places Mashatile outside the country at the time the alleged meeting was said to have been planned.
“Of greater significance is that the Deputy President was out of the country at the time that Mr Matlala purportedly met with him or intended to do so,” said Khoza.
During proceedings earlier on Monday, evidence leader Mathew Chaskalson told the commission that Matlala had allegedly requested the return of his bank card from Nkosi because he had scheduled meetings with Mashatile and suspended Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
Chaskalson attempted to probe the purpose and context of those alleged meetings, but Nkosi was unable to provide further detail, telling the commission he did not know why Matlala needed the card or what the meetings would entail.
Nkosi had earlier testified that Matlala informed him he urgently required the card because he was “going to meet Deputy President Paul Mashatile” — a claim that did not appear in Nkosi’s formal written statement and which he later attributed to “human error”.
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