WATCH: Bheki Cele on Vusi 'Cat' Matlala: It’s no coincidence, …the power of money he commands.

Marcus Moloko

This week, former Police Minister Bheki Cele appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating alleged corruption and criminal infiltration within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

His testimony drew sharp scrutiny from Democratic Alliance MP Glynnis Breytenbach, a former prosecutor and current member of the committee, who questioned Cele about the suspicious pattern of withdrawn criminal cases involving controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

[WATCH] Glynnis Breytenbach asks Bheki Cele if he thinks it’s a mere coincidence that cases against Vusi “Cat” Matlala have been withdrawn over the years. Cele responds, “I don’t believe it’s a coincidence, knowing who Cat Matlala is and the power of money that he commands.” pic.twitter.com/Wc5zlFIiwT
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 24, 2025

In a tense exchange captured on video, Breytenbach asked Cele whether he believed it was “a mere coincidence” that more than a dozen cases, estimated at around 18, had been withdrawn