SAPS national head of crime intelligence, Lieutenant-General. Dumisani Khumalo testified that businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was funding Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s delegates in ANC events, while Brown Mogotsi worked underground to leak classified police information to Matlala.

Khumalo told the Madlanga Commission on Monday that Matlala made payments directly to Mogotsi in a bid to frustrate criminal investigations against him.

This was a clear explanation of how the Big 5 cartel managed to infiltrate the political sphere, control the SAPS, and also influence the judiciary.

“In return, Mogotsi uses his influence within the SAPS and the Ministry to manipulate SAPS processes to frustrate criminal investigations into Matlala.

“Also, leaks highly confidential or classified information of the SAPS to Matlala,” Khumalo said.

This is the same Mogotsi that Mchunu denied knowing in Parliament but later admitted that he knew him as a “comrade”.

The commission also heard that Matlala secured an unlawful R360 million contract between the SAPS and Medicare 24, a company he owned.

Khumalo alleged that when SAPS attempted to cancel the deal, Mogotsi intervened to protect the contract—though ultimately failed.

In a case of mistaken identity, Mogotsi allegedly believed the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was investigating Matlala.

In fact, the probe was being led by Gauteng’s Counterintelligence Operations Unit but still, Mogotsi is said to have made repeated efforts to dismantle the PKTT altogether.

“Mogotsi purports to have been operating in this regard,” he said.

Khumalo testified that Mogotsi sought to initiate a criminal investigation against him personally, which he described as a failed attempt to discredit the integrity of ongoing operations.

Khumalo was arrested in June at OR Tambo International Airport alongside six high-ranking police officials.

According to the KZN police commissioner, Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, this was a clear attempt to collapse the investigations of Matlala and the others.

In another revelation, Khumalo alleged that the KZN Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Provincial Head, Maj-Gen. Lesetja Senona pursued similar objectives with Mogotsi to leak again leak confidential SAPS documents to Matlala.

Senona’s association Matlala appeared to be linked to a commercial venture between his son, Thato Senona and Matlala.

Meanwhile, Khumalo told the commission on Monday that Katiso Molefe and Matlala were linked to the Big 5 cartel—implicated in drug trafficking, tender fraud, and contract killings.

“The Big Five has already penetrated the political sphere and there are documented cases of high-profile connections in the political arena,” Khumalo said, adding that senior politicians are alleged to be complicit in the syndicate operations.

Khumalo is expected to resume his testimony on Tuesday.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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