LIVE | Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala testimony Day 2: Bheki Cele initially wanted R1 million, Matlala alleges
Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, the alleged leader of the notorious criminal cartel “The Big Five,” is set to continue his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee conducting a high-profile investigation into systemic corruption within South Africa’s law enforcement agencies.
11:20 am: Matlala was questioned by evidence leader Norman Arendse about his meeting with KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Matlala said Bheki Cele had arranged the meeting at The Pearls in Umhlanga, after being informed that Matlala wasn’t getting purchase orders for his Medicare24 contract. Lesetja Senona, head of KZN Hawks, was said to be present at the meeting.
According to Matlala, Mkhwanazi said he would ask his HR head to provide the purchase orders that he wanted, but then Matlala was given details about this HR person’s house purchase in Pretoria. He felt this implied that he would need to give her money if he wanted his contract to be processed smoothly.
When asked if this reeked of corruption, Matlala said it did, but justified it saying he was simply dealing with someone who was corrupt in order to attain something that was rightfully his.
11:00 am: Matlala revealed that former Police Minister Bheki Cele made other demands (in addition to the initial money requests), like settling the accounts of a son of his who “people don’t know about”, who is an engineering student.
10:30 am – Earlier in 2025, Bheki Cele requested a payment of R1 million, Vusi Matlala alleged, while under questioning by the Ad Hoc Committee’s evidence leader Norman Arendse.
He said the demand was made while the former Police Minister was staying at his apartment. Matlala said he could only give him R300,000. This amount was paid to Cele in January, and R200,000 was paid at a later date.
However, it emerged that there is no living witness to this request as Bongani Mpungose was present, but he has since passed on.
When asked why he made the payment, he said Cele felt he wasn’t doing enough to show his appreciation after he’d helped Matlala stave off police interrogation following two December raids on his properties.
Cele stayed at his flat in Pretoria for a few days at a time when he needed accommodation, on multiple occasions. However, Cele allegedly said this “wasn’t paying his bills”.
Matlala said following the initial payments of R500,000, he was intending to pay a further R300,000 but decided against it.
The first two payments were in cash, which had been stashed in a Woolworths bag! When the second payment was delivered, Matlala was accompanied by a large security convoy. When asked why this was necessary, the businessman said it was for the purposes of marketing his personal protection services.
10 am – Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee, Soviet Lekganyane, is greeting participants and the process is about to commence.
Lekganyane said proceedings would continue until 7pm, with the first two hours used for the presentation of evidence.
Matlala, currently detained at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre since his April arrest, faces serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and involvement in a R2-billion fraud linked to Tembisa Hospital.
His testimony marks a pivotal moment in the committee’s probing of allegations that reach deep into the police force and political structures, potentially implicating top officials in shielding criminal networks.
The committee was formed last October following explosive accusations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The Commissioner alleged a deliberate campaign by senior police officials and politicians to undermine investigations, protecting powerful drug cartels connected to politically motivated killings in the province.
In a damning claim made on July 6, Mkhwanazi accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on December 31, 2024.
He alleged this move was designed to shield Matlala and other criminals with entrenched political ties from prosecution.
During Wednesday’s session, Matlala shocked the committee by alleging payments to senior officials for protection.
He claimed to have handed former Police Minister Bheki Cele sums of R300,000 and R200,000, contradicting Cele’s previous statements denying any association.
Evidence leader Norman Arendse challenged Matlala to explain the nature of his relationship with both Mchunu and Cele.
“During a raid on my business in December 2024, I spoke to businessman Brown Mogotsi, who promised to assist. He also asked for money to book accommodation for Mchunu’s ten associates.
“Mogotsi requested funding for the January 8 ANC celebration on behalf of Minister Senzo Mchunu. I paid R200,000 to Mogotsi,” Matlala said.
He continued, saying that Cele lied during his appearance before the Committee when he testified that he didn’t know who Matlala was.
“Cele misled the Committee under oath. He once asked me to arrange transport and security for him at a wedding in Lanseria. If Minister Cele didn’t know me, why then did I give him R300,000 and subsequently R200,000?”
Earlier, Matlala also alleged that Cele promised an end to police harassment if Matlala withdrew legal action against officers accused of targeting him in raids.
“Former Minister Cele told me the harassment would stop if I dropped my legal cases against the officers who were harassing me.”
These revelations deepen the committee’s concerns about the extent of collusion between criminal syndicates and senior state officials, raising urgent questions about accountability and the future of the country’s fight against corruption and crime within its security forces.
The committee will resume hearings tomorrow, with Matlala expected to provide further details about his alleged networks and the protection he received from elements within the police and political leadership.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
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