Businessman's testimony could expose R-billions in alleged police payoffs, South Africa's

South Africa’s Madlanga Commission, a 10-month inquiry into alleged police corruption, is set to hear directly from the businessman at its centre this week. Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, 49, has been named repeatedly throughout proceedings since they began in September, with testimony painting a detailed picture of financial inducements allegedly exchanged for access to lucrative state contracts.

The alleged transactions are specific and varied. According to testimony presented at the commission, Matlala provided 20 impalas to a suspended deputy police chief, supplied the weight-loss drug Ozempic to a senior officer, extended a personal loan of $4,000 to another, and made a 500,000 rand ($31,000; £23,000) “facilitation fee” payment to a former police minister. Each of these alleged payments occurred while Matlala was securing police contracts, raising pointed questions about how his business dealings intersected with government procurement decisions.

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Matlala has been held in police custody for more than a year on charges related to attempted murder, which he denies. He was also charged with corruption over allegations concerning health services provided to the police. Last month he pleaded guilty as part of a prosecution deal, then withdrew that plea after the agreement fell apart. His appearance before retired Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga and the commission’s panel will mark the first time he has addressed these allegations directly in public proceedings.

His path to business prominence is, by any measure, unconventional. Born in 1976 during South Africa’s apartheid era, Matlala grew up in a township east of Pretoria. He described himself to parliament in November as a former “street kid” whose single mother, who he said had albinism, “disappeared on me.” He reunited with her in 2002 when she was terminally ill. After leaving school he engaged in informal business and accumulated a criminal record, including a 2001 conviction for possession of stolen goods and subsequent arrests for house robberies, cash-in-transit heists, and assault. He was acquitted or had charges withdrawn in most cases and denied involvement in all alleged crimes.

Formal business registration came in 2017, when Matlala set up a security services company. He later expanded into healthcare provision, securing contracts with a hospital and then with the police, despite having no prior experience in healthcare services. His name surfaced publicly only three years ago, in news reports concerning alleged tender irregularities at a state hospital, which he said he had nothing to do with.

What changed, at least in terms of public scrutiny, was the Madlanga Commission’s systematic examination of how those relationships were built. Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, who oversaw the police contract awarded to Matlala, disclosed an on-off romantic relationship with him that included lavish gifts. Major-General Richard Shibiri, head of the police’s organised crime unit, acknowledged receiving the $4,000 personal loan from Matlala, which he repaid, though he denied a close friendship despite frequent contact and personal advice-giving. Both Shibiri and Matjeng have since been fired from the police force.

Major-General Shadrack Sibiya, a suspended deputy police chief, denied receiving 20 impalas from Matlala but acknowledged knowing him professionally. The inquiry also reached two former and current ministers. Bheki Cele, a former police minister, admitted knowing Matlala for a couple of months and staying at his penthouse twice but denied receiving money. Senzo Mchunu, the now-suspended current police minister, denied allegations that he received indirect financial campaign contributions from Matlala.

By contrast, the Ekurhuleni local government thread in the inquiry is more granular. Blue lights and sirens were allegedly fitted on Matlala’s personal vehicles while Julius Mkhwanazi served as acting police chief. Mkhwanazi, now suspended, denied the allegations but admitted receiving money from Matlala and described him as a “blood brother.”

The commission’s proceedings have exposed a network of senior officials across multiple tiers of South Africa’s police hierarchy, all with documented contact with a single businessman who had no healthcare background before winning police contracts. The central question that Matlala’s testimony this week must answer is not merely whether gifts changed hands, but what institutional conditions made it possible for such arrangements to operate at scale and for so long.