In a dramatic turn during Parliament’s ongoing probe into systemic corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has directly linked former Police Minister Bheki Cele to a suspicious money transfer involving alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Testifying under oath before the Ad Hoc Committee on Police Corruption on Wednesday, Mkhwanazi told MPs that Cele allegedly sent Matlala a bank account number — not registered in Cele’s name — to which Matlala then deposited money.
“This is not just about phone calls. It’s about money. It’s criminal,”
said Mkhwanazi, adding that Cele later acknowledged receiving proof of payment.
According to Mkhwanazi, the communications trace back to 2024, and investigators are now tracking the money flow to determine whether the funds ultimately returned to Cele or reached another recipient.
The revelation suggests the existence of a possible money-laundering network involving senior SAPS officials and organised crime syndicates operating within South Africa.
A Network of Police and Political Figures
Cele is not the only high-ranking official under scrutiny. Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya are also implicated in what Mkhwanazi described as a web of SAPS-linked cartels.
Investigators have reportedly identified communications and connections between these officials and SAPS insiders who allegedly assisted criminal enterprises, including members of Crime Intelligence, detective units, forensic services, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks.
“There are runners and officers working as intermediaries between Sibiya and criminal elements,”
Mkhwanazi revealed.
“We didn’t name all of them—there are too many.”
Concerns Over State Security Agency Involvement
The scandal appears to reach beyond SAPS. Mkhwanazi told MPs that the State Security Agency (SSA) may also have played a role in clearing Sibiya for appointment, despite prior red flags raised by both the City of Johannesburg and SAPS leadership.
“We need to confirm if the clearance was signed off by the Director-General of SSA, or if someone without authority pushed it through,”
he added.
This claim suggests a potential breach of protocol within SSA — one that may have enabled compromised officials to hold key security positions despite internal objections.
Ongoing Investigations and Testimonies Ahead
Mkhwanazi stated that some individuals remain under investigation, and their names could not yet be disclosed to the public due to the sensitivity of ongoing inquiries.
Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola is expected to testify next before the committee as proceedings continue on Thursday morning.
The inquiry, which has already uncovered extensive evidence of bribery, political interference, and criminal collusion within SAPS, is part of Parliament’s broader effort to restore credibility to South Africa’s law enforcement institutions.
While the allegations against Cele and others remain under investigation, the revelations have further deepened public concern about the entanglement of politics, policing, and organised crime in the country.
