News summary produced by Claude AI
Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala, a 49-year-old businessman, is scheduled to provide testimony before South Africa’s Madlanga Commission, a major inquiry examining allegations of police corruption. Matlala has been accused of offering substantial gifts to senior police officers, including 20 impalas, the weight-loss medication Ozempic, and personal loans, allegedly to secure influence and obtain police contracts. He currently remains in police custody in connection with a separate attempted murder charge, which he denies.
Matlala previously testified before a parallel parliamentary corruption inquiry last November, where he wore designer clothing and denied allegations of corruption while acknowledging donations made to activities associated with the African National Congress. However, he has not yet directly addressed the broader allegations leveled against him at the Madlanga Commission, including claims of involvement in a drug trafficking organization referred to as the Big Five. According to Matlala’s own account to lawmakers, he was born in 1976 and grew up in a township near Pretoria after being raised by a single mother. He experienced multiple arrests over several decades for various crimes, though he was either acquitted or had charges withdrawn in most cases. In 2001, he was convicted and imprisoned for possession of stolen goods.
According to testimony presented at the commission, Matlala allegedly maintained corrupt relationships with numerous senior police officials. These allegations include claims that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu received indirect financial support for political activities, that former Police Minister Bheki Cele accepted a 500,000 rand facilitation fee, and that suspended deputy police chief Maj-Gen Shadrack Sibiya received 20 impalas. Additionally, Brig Rachel Matjeng acknowledged a romantic relationship with Matlala involving expensive gifts, and Maj-Gen Richard Shibiri admitted to receiving a personal loan from him. Matjeng and Shibiri have since been dismissed from the police force. Matlala told lawmakers he transitioned to legitimate business in 2017, establishing a security services company that later expanded into healthcare provision, enabling him to obtain contracts despite lacking relevant experience.