Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, the businessman whose name has become synonymous with high-level corruption allegations, returned to the spotlight during an Ad Hoc Committee sitting at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre on 27 November 2025. Testifying from prison, where he is being held on attempted-murder charges related to his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, Matlala offered Parliament another chapter in a story already packed with intrigue, political entanglements and a fair share of eyebrow-raising encounters.
During questioning, Matlala openly acknowledged that he once used a South African Police Service (SAPS) member to run a personal errand. The exchange, equal parts serious and oddly mundane, highlighted the blurred lines between authority and personal favour that have defined many of the allegations against him.
A Boat Battery, a Sergeant, and a Slippery Explanation
African National Congress MP Xola Nqola pressed Matlala about his relationship with SAPS members, particularly a Sergeant Nkosi. Matlala initially defended himself by saying that Nkosi was “a human being” who ceased being a police officer after hours. The committee, understandably unconvinced, pushed further.
Eventually, Matlala conceded that he did, in fact, send the officer to buy a boat battery for him. The errand sounded more like something from a neighbourly WhatsApp group than a parliamentary inquiry, but it reinforced the core concern: access to state resources, even informally, can easily slide into abuse of power.
Growing Web of Alleged Police Corruption
This admission is only a fragment of a much larger puzzle. Witnesses before both the Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry have accused Matlala of wielding influence over senior police officials and some politicians.
He has been linked to:
Suspended Deputy National Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi
These associations form part of what experts describe as a network of criminal cartels and syndicates that have infiltrated state structures. One crime expert speculated that Matlala may hold key information capable of exposing the full architecture of these alleged networks.
Concerns Over Witness Immunity
Despite appearing relatively open in his testimony, Matlala expressed doubt about the immunity offered to witnesses testifying about alleged police corruption. His scepticism suggests that the stakes may be higher than even his current legal troubles indicate. When networks stretch across provinces and ministries, trust becomes a rare commodity.
Claims Against Senior Officials Continue to Pile Up
Matlala’s testimony did not end with boat batteries and errand-running. He made several pointed allegations, including:
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi allegedly asked him for a personal favour during a meeting in Umhlanga.
North West businessman Brown Mogotsi allegedly received money from Matlala to help him navigate a police matter.
Former Police Minister Bheki Cele allegedly received R500 000 from him, paid in two separate instalments.
The allegations against Cele extend further. In a related matter previously reported, Matlala claimed that Cele wanted R1 million to buy a house in Trafalgar, KwaZulu-Natal, for an allegedly unacknowledged son. Matlala said he provided half of that amount, totalling R500 000.
The claims, if true, paint a troubling picture: a network of favours and financial exchanges existing parallel to official police structures.
A Testimony That Points to Something Bigger
Matlala’s appearance before Parliament has been a mix of confession, accusation and cautious self-preservation. His statements illustrate a world where political access can be transactional, and where law enforcement officers are sometimes treated as private assistants.
Beneath the drama lies a sobering question for South Africans: if these allegations only scratch the surface, how deep does the corruption run?
As the committee continues its inquiry, more revelations may surface, each offering another glimpse into a system struggling to police itself.
