Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala will no longer appear before the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala will not appear before the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday.
The Commission spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, said that due to the heightened media and public interest in the testimony of Mr Vusimuzi Matlala, his evidence has been postponed to a date yet to be determined.
"Mr Matlala will therefore not appear in person before the Commission on Tuesday, but his legal representative will instead be physically present."
Matlala first built his business interests in the private security industry before expanding into healthcare services.
In 2018, through his company Medicare24 Tshwane District, he partnered with Mike van Wyk to roll out the Medicare24 franchise into township communities.
Matlala came under intense public scrutiny after his company was awarded a South African Police Service (SAPS) healthcare services contract worth approximately R228 million in June 2024.
The tender, initially reported to be worth as much as R360 million, attracted widespread criticism after questions were raised about the company's operational capacity, infrastructure and staffing.
Before the contract was terminated, Matlala's company had reportedly received about R50 million.
The matter is now the subject of ongoing fraud and corruption investigations.
Matlala is currently in state custody facing 25 criminal charges, including allegations of fraud, corruption linked to public procurement, and an unrelated charge of attempted murder.
He has reportedly been engaged in plea negotiations with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), offering to cooperate with investigators in exchange for a reduced sentence.
These proceedings remain before the courts.
His name has also emerged prominently before the Madlanga Commission, where evidence leaders and witnesses have alleged that he played a central role in a sophisticated network of organised crime and institutional corruption that infiltrated senior structures within the SAPS.
According to testimony before the commission, Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo identified Matlala as a leading figure in the so-called "Big Five" organised crime syndicate, which has been linked to allegations of cocaine trafficking, kidnapping, cross-border vehicle hijackings and tender-related extortion.
These allegations have not been tested in court.
The commission has further heard allegations that Matlala cultivated relationships with senior police officials through financial inducements and other benefits.
Among those implicated are Maj-Gen. Richard Shibiri, who admitted to receiving an R80,000 personal loan from Matlala, and Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, who acknowledged receiving expensive gifts, including doses of the prescription weight-loss medication Ozempic, while overseeing the evaluation of the disputed SAPS healthcare tender.
Additional allegations before the commission implicate Maj-Gen. Lesetja Senona and Shadrack Sibiya in allegedly leaking classified police information and accepting financial benefits in exchange for protecting Matlala's interests.
Both have been named during testimony, and the allegations remain subject to the commission's findings.
The commission has also examined WhatsApp communications allegedly linking Matlala to political fixer Brown Mogotsi, including discussions relating to state matters and requests for financial support for political activities.
The names of former Police Ministers Bheki Cele and Senzo Mchunu have similarly surfaced during testimony as part of broader inquiries into Matlala's alleged network of influence, although neither has been found guilty of any wrongdoing arising from the commission's proceedings.
Among the most serious allegations presented to the commission are claims that Matlala orchestrated the assassination of Transnet whistleblower Armand Swart by allegedly hiring a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer to carry out the killing. Witnesses further alleged that senior SAPS officials subsequently interfered with or suppressed the murder investigation.
These allegations remain unproven and have not been adjudicated by a court.
Separately, evidence before the commission alleges that Matlala's security company, Cat VIP Protection, entered into an irregular memorandum of understanding with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), enabling private vehicles to be fitted with unlawful blue emergency lights reserved for law enforcement.
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