This video is a news wrap by IOL journalist Mendy Mtshali dissecting Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s recent political and legal developments, including allegations about cash found in a Woolworths bag linked to former police minister Bheki Cele, a heated exchange involving ActionSA MP Dereleen James, and tributes towards whistleblower Babita Deokaran by PA MP Ashley Sauls.

During his testimony, Matlala said he went to the FNB branch in Menlyn, with his sister, Claudette Masethe, the sole director of Medicare24 Tshwane District, and they withdrew R300,000 in cash. Matlala admitted he was using Masethe as a front and that he remained a 100% shareholder of the company, despite resigning as a director in December 2024 amid heightened scrutiny on him by the police through the Political Killings Task Team.

He claims the money was placed in a Woolworths shopping bag and he walked back to his apartment, presenting it to Cele, who was in the company of Bongani ‘Mabonga’ Mpungose at Matlala’s apartment. 

He claimed another R200,000 was paid to Cele at the parking lot of The Pearls in Umhlanga, with one of Matlala’s protectors handing over the money to a red Jeep which was used by Cele. 

In the second part of the video, James and Matlala are embroiled in a screaming match, while the final item features Sauls honouring whistleblower Babita Deokaran, while also appealing to the conscience of Matlala, who had nothing to say despite a heartfelt appeal and confrontation.

In the video above, Cat Matlala says he paid Bheki Cele R500,000 in cash, alleging the payment during an Ad Hoc Committee hearing; the claim has sparked political fallout, calls for investigation, and intense public scrutiny.

The allegation, if substantiated, raises serious questions about transparency and accountability in public office. Parliamentary committee hearings are a formal venue for such claims, and they typically trigger procedural steps including evidence submission, witness questioning, and potential referral to investigative bodies.

Matlala told MPs he believes he is jailed because he refused to pay former police minister Bheki Cele more money, and he accused Cele of dishonesty and of demanding cash.

He said once he stopped paying Cele, he was quickly arrested by the police.

PA’s Sauls tells Matlala that whistleblowers will be the ultimate winners. He said when people get consumed by greed and power, they often lose sight of the human cost.

The loss of lives should make us pause and reconsider our priorities and the means we use to achieve wealth and power. Sauls tells Matlala that all whistleblowers facing victimisation will ultimately win.

Sauls talks about the hurt and the trauma of Babita Deokaran’s daughter after her mum was shot 12 times in front of her yard and that her daughter will go through deep hurt and pain.

How does that make you feel? Deokaran exposed corruption at Thembisa Hospital and then she was gunned down. Sauls say the events were evil and that Matlala benefitted from the evil of the love of money, at its root, the cause of the brutal and discussing murder of Babita.

“God has entered the ring to fight this evil in our country, you will lose. Babitas blood is speaking from the ground, the whistleblowers will win,” Sauls spoke emotionally about the human toll of corruption, referencing the trauma inflicted on Babita Deokaran’s daughter.

Deokaran was gunned down after exposing corruption at Thembisa Hospital. Sauls condemned the events as “evil” and accused Matlala of benefitting from the “evil of the love of money,” which Sauls identifies as the root cause of Babita’s “brutal and disgusting murder.”

He concluded with a powerful declaration, stating that “God has entered the ring to fight this evil in our country,” and that those perpetrating the corruption, like Matlala, “will lose.” Sauls insists, “Babita’s blood is speaking from the ground, the whistleblowers will win.”

EFF MP Julius Malema questioned Matlala about many personal issues, as well as his supposed eSwatini passport and the contraband cellphone found in prison.

When asked about his childhood, Matlala revealed that he grew up on the street for a very long time after his mother disappeared. He believes she was traumatised after being raped, due to an “albino myth”.

When the conversation turned to business, Matlala revealed that he resigned from Medicare24 Tshwane in order to preserve the image of the company. But Malema took him on for placing his sister, Claudette Masethe, as a director – conceding she was fronting for him.

The EFF leader said: “How do you think it’s acceptable to make an African woman a front?”

Matlala said it was only a temporary situation and justified it with high pay, but Malema interjected, saying it defeated the purpose of empowering women. He eventually got Matlala to admit that it was wrong.

Malema also took him on about accusations that he was involved in his friend Jerry Boshoga’s disappearance.

”Jerry’s Mom is watching, talk to her!” Malema urged.

Matlala said they were very close friends and Boshoga was like a brother to him, “but there are people getting between us, trying to convince you that I took your son so that you might think of me as a bogey man. But from the bottom of my heart, I will never, and I have never done anything to harm your son or your family.”

While being questioned by ANC MP Xola Nqola, Matlala denied knowing about a drug cartel operating in Gauteng. He also said he has no personal relationship with Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.

Later in the conversation, Matlala said that Bheki Cele told him that he and his team wanted to arrest suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.Asked whether he is angry with Cele, Matlala admitted that he was not happy with the former Police Minister, but said he would not lie about him.

ANC MP Sokanyile also questioned Matlala about his business dealings and allegedly using his sister Claudette Masethe as a front and allegedly implicating her in money laundering.

DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach grilled Matlala about the numerous crimes that he was accused of between 2000 and 2018, including involvement in carjacking, carjacking and car theft.

She asked how all but one of these were withdrawn. In response, Matlala said they were withdrawn because he wasn’t guilty of them.

When asked whether his payment of R500,000 to Cele was corrupt, Matlala said he was simply returning a favour.

“From his side, I would say it’s corruption,” he added. When asked why he didn’t report Cele, the businessman said he could not report the same police who were harassing him.

IOL

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