Illustrative image, from left: Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo) | Chair of the parliamentary ad hoc committee Soviet Lekganyane (centre) with chief evidence leader advocate Norman Arendse SC. (Photo: Phando Jikelo / Parliament RSA) | Background: The parliamentary ad hoc committee proceedings, probing claims made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. (Photo: Phando Jikelo / RSA Parliament) 
Parliamentarians will soon head for prison – to hear evidence from Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala in the ongoing inquiry after allegations that a drug cartel has infiltrated aspects of South African policing and politicians.
On Monday, 10 November, during a meeting of the parliamentary ad hoc committee, MPs heard that progress was under way to hear evidence from Matlala.
The parliamentary committee stems from the explosive allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner.
Two different processes have been established to investigate Mkhwanazi’s allegations: the parliamentary ad hoc committee and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Matlala’s name came up in the public domain at the Madlanga Commission, after he was named as a member of the Big Five drug cartel, which has allegedly managed to infiltrate policing within South Africa, as well as potentially funding political ambitions for political parties.
In Parliament, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu (who has been placed on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa following the Mkhwanazi allegations), admitted that his lawyers had spoken to Matlala’s lawyers in connection with an affidavit from Matlala that claimed the alleged criminal did not know the sidelined police minister.
Read more: Mchunu uses ‘dangerous man’ crime accused Matlala’s affidavit to defend himself
As Daily Maverick has reported, Matlala is detained at Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Tshwane while he faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice, linked to incidents that allegedly unfolded in Johannesburg between 12 and 17 October 2023. He is accused of plotting the murder of his socialite girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, and two other complainants.
His co-accused, wife Tsakani Matlala, Nithabising Nzama, Musa Kekana and Teigo Floyd Mabusela, are also charged alongside Katiso “KT” Molefe over the April 2024 murder of Q Tech engineer Armand Swart in Vereeniging.
According to a preliminary schedule, Matlala’s testimony is scheduled to take place between 26-28 November. MPs heard that after weekend talks with prison officials, the Kgosi Mampuru Prison could host public hearings to hear Matlala’s evidence.
All committee members agreed to the visit.
“If the best way to secure the witness is to go to Pretoria, we support that as the ANC (African National Congress),” said Khusela Sangoni.
Leigh Anne Matthys (Economic Freedom Fighters) said that while the committee was in Tshwane, they should attempt to hear evidence from other potential witnesses.
Requests for an extension
On Monday, chairperson of the ad hoc committee, Soviet Lekganyane, said a letter was being finalised to ask the Speaker of the National Assembly for an extension of the committee, which is scheduled to end on 28 November.
However, the committee needs to finalise its work. Explaining the request, the committee’s Nicolette van Zyl said the reason for the extension was threefold:
- More witnesses needed to appear before the committee. This included people such as information peddler Brown Mogotsi, police whistleblower Patricia Mashale and investigator Paul O’Sullivan.
- The committee still needed to work through the public participation process, which is currently at 268 written submissions.
- Deliberations by the committee members for compiling the final report.
All the political parties agreed on an extension. The African National Congress’s Khusela Sangoni said the committee needed to discuss a deadline for the committee to complete its work. She said the committee could not continue “in perpetuity”, “otherwise we’ll keep extending and extending”.
Lekganyane said there was a planned meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza on the suggested extension.
The Democratic Alliance’s Dianne Kohler Barnard said: “We need an end date. This could stretch on for the next five years,” referring to the Zondo Commission.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Shamila Batohi will testify this week. Later in the week, Eric Nkabinde, chief of staff for sidelined Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, will testify. DM