Explosive testimony at the Madlanga Commission has revealed that police top brass, including suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, allegedly received large amounts of money from businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

Witness C, a member of the Gauteng counterintelligence operations unit, who was deployed from the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), told the commission on Thursday that Matlala claimed he gave suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu R500,000 to fund his presidential campaign in the ANC.

The witness said Matlala revealed that he had been funding police top brass on May 14, 2025, the day he was arrested for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, Teboho Thobejane.

He was denied bail by the Alexandra magistrate’s court, which found he posed a danger to society and may interfere with state witnesses.

According to Witness C, when Matlala was arrested, he was taken to Boksburg police station with the intention of detaining him; however, before that could happen, he requested a talk with the detectives. That’s when he spilled the beans about his relationship with the SAPS top brass.

According to Witness C, Matlala claimed he transferred money to a company registered by Brown Mogotsi, who would then pass it on to Mchunu. 

Mogotsi has been identified at the commission as an ‘information peddler’ who was in contact with several high-ranking police officials.

“Matlala said he contributed to Mchunu’s campaign. He sponsored the minister’s delegates to the Jan 8 statement of the ANC, in Cape Town, and he paid an amount close to R500,000 . The money covered flights, accommodation, and entertainment,” the witness said.

The Commission was told that Matlala also showed detectives the name of the company and accounts where he transferred the money. He also told the detectives that these transactions were reflected on his bank statement.

Witness C said Matlala told the detectives that he had funded Mchunu’s presidential ambitions but he did not believe that Mchunu would win and only did so because he was afraid of discouraging him.

According to Witness C, Matlala also claimed he had paid R500,000 to suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.

When Sibiya’s son was getting married, Matlala claimed he paid R300,000 to Sibiya to fund the wedding celebration. Matlala also told the detectives that he attended the wedding in a Rolls-Royce.

“In January 2025, Matlala indicated that Sibiya informed him that he was buying a plot in Midrand and the plot would be registered under the name of his (Sibiya’s) wife. The plot would be converted into a B&B. Matlala indicated he gave Sibiya R2 million towards the purchase of the B&B. The money was delivered in cash to Sibiya by Matlala,” the witness said.

According to Witness C, Matlala complained that Sibiya loved ‘money too much’.

He mentioned that at one point, when Matlala had gone to the SAPS headquarters to discuss the issue of access to a health facility at an SAPS training centre, Sibiya allegedly told him to leave money in the dustbin located in a bathroom in Sibiya’s office.

Matlala had a contract for the health facilities at police training centres.

Matlala claimed he left R200,000 in a bin. He claimed that he also gave Sibiya 20 impalas.

Witness C added that after every payment for the SAPS tender, a portion of the payment would be given to Sibiya by Matlala, sometimes R1 million per month.

Matlala told the detectives that Sibiya and KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona helped him (Matlala) to secure the multimillion-rand SAPS tender, which was later cancelled by Mchunu.

The witness also said that, on occasion, money would be moved through Sergeant FE Nkosi, from the national office of the Organised Crime Unit.

The Commission heard that Matlala would transfer money to Nkosi, and Nkosi would drop it off with Sibiya. 

Nkosi would allegedly be given some money to utilise for himself and send the rest to Sibiya.

Matlala told police that SAPS counter-intelligence head, Major General Feroz Khan, allegedly demanded R2.5 million, but Matlala only gave him R500,000. 

Witness C said Matlala told detectives that the manner in which Khan demanded money appeared as if he (Khan) was intimidating Matlala. The concern for Matlala was that Khan would regularly use his penthouse in Menlyn.

The witness said that the national head of the Organised Crime Unit, Major General Richard Shibiri, allegedly received R80,000 from Matlala through a company named Black AK Trading. However, Shibiri expressed unhappiness with the electronic transfer. The money was then returned to Matlala’s account and later given to Shibiri in cash. 

Witness C said that the money was meant for Shibiri to celebrate his promotion as the national head of Organised Crime.

According to the testimony, Matlala had the SAPS top brass in the palm of his hand, but he expressed his frustration to the detectives that the top generals and Mchunu were unable to protect him from the SAPS team (the Gauteng counter intelligence operation within the PKTT), who wanted to arrest him. 

The witness said Matlala complained that, despite Sibiya being a deputy national commissioner, he did not make a call to assist him when the police descended on him and his business.

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is investigating allegations of collusion and corruption between politicians, senior police, prosecutors, intelligence operatives, and elements of the judiciary, levelled by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

gcwalisile.khanyile@inl.co.za

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