Former Police Minister, Bheki Cele, has told Parliament’s Ad Hoc committee that he was told a meeting did take place between Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu who is on special leave, Brown Mogotsi and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Cele is appearing before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee that is looking into allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption and political interference in the justice system.

The allegations were made by KZN Police Commissioner, Nhanhla Mkhwanazi, in July this year. He alleged that Mchunu has links with North West business man, Brown Mogotsi.

Mogotsi allegedly in WhatsApp messages told attempted murder accused Matlala that he would arrange for a meeting between himself, Mchunu and Matlala.

Mchunu has denied this meeting ever took place. He also submitted an affidavit to the committee that there are no links between him and Matlala.

Cele painted a different picture to MPs, as led by evidence leader Norman Arendse.

“And it was about a project … of funding a project to become president or deputy president. What puzzled him was he was told by the minister that they would work well ‘if you don’t come close to Cele and Zuma’. That’s when he realised there is some kind of game going on,” says Cele.

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The former police minister says it was not easy to identity that Matlala was involved in criminal activities. This was Cele’s answer when he was asked why he met Matlala.

Cele says he met Matlala via a person he knew through his father while he was the MEC on Transport in KZN.

“Looking at him from the very word go … remember, I have met someone that has been arrested or  who has not been arrested. Looking at him, he looks (like) a cool guy, as you would look at him until you begin to get the records. For instance, I was looking at the withdrawing cases and all that stuff and I said this one too long (sic). How come he managed to go below all of us because withdrawals are done by courts. Even if court cases are withdrawn by courts, you begin to look (at) him (with a) new eye (sic) than the person that you have already met,” says Cele.

He says he was unable to conclude that Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was guilty of the allegations he was accused of when they met for the first time. .

He’s  admitted to meeting Matlala but says he decided that only the courts could rule on the allegations he was facing.

“…I have read that story but the stories and the man being suspected will have to be confirmed by talking after we have engaged rather than to say I read the story on you and run away, especially in the environment that we are working in,” says Cele.

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Cele continues to give evidence in the Ad Hoc Committee.