Bheki Cele drops a bombshell: Senzo Mchunu asked Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to fund his presidential campaign
Former Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee that Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala had told him that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu sought funding for his presidential campaign.
Cele’s testimony comes amid investigations into alleged political interference in police operations, sparked by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s recent accusations of corruption and undue influence within the police service.
Cele described a meeting last year at Durban’s upmarket Beverly Hills Hotel, where he met Matlala for the first time.
He recalled that Matlala, who faces various criminal charges, was not known to him in political or community circles before their encounter.
“I didn’t know him before that meeting. I would normally have heard about such people, especially given my engagements in places like Umlazi, where issues about troublemakers often come up. But Matlala flew under the radar,” Cele told the committee.
During the meeting, Matlala raised two key issues. Cele recounted that the first was related to Mchunu wanting Matlala’s financial support for a future presidential bid.
“Cat told me that the Minister [Mchunu] wanted to find funds for his project of becoming president, the future president. I didn’t get specific details about when or how this conversation between Mchunu and Matlala happened.”
Cele said this disclosure did not alarm him, but as a senior ANC NEC member, it was a matter of considerable interest.
He stated that the second issue concerned a police raid on Matlala’s residence.
Cele said that Matlala claimed he was targeted by an early morning operation carried out by the Special Task Force, allegedly on false charges related to drugs.
Cele added that Matlala told him the raid was politically motivated to disrupt him.
“He said he was approached by a senior police official, who asked him to write an affidavit against Khumalo — the head of the Political Killings Task Team — to have Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo arrested,” Cele testified.
According to Cele, Matlala did not want to take the matter to court because of his ongoing contracts with the police. Cele intervened by speaking directly to Khumalo, and eventually, the legal case was dropped after discussions between their representatives.
Cele denied any prior knowledge of Matlala’s contracts with the police, including an alleged R360 million tender
“I was not told who Matlala was before I met him,” Cele said.
“I cannot say if that tender is the biggest awarded during my term, but tenders for police vehicles, laboratory services, IT, and ammunition are all significant. I wouldn’t say I knew about this specific one.”
During last week’s proceedings, Minister Mchunu appeared before the committee and denied ever meeting Matlala.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
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