Day two of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry took a dramatic turn when KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi gave testimony that placed controversial businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala at the centre of corruption and abuse of state resources.
Watch: Mkhwanazi reveals depth of Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s influence in politics
Mkhwanazi told the commission that Matlala has long enjoyed “too much privilege” from law enforcement, explaining that some of his personal vehicles were fraudulently registered as official municipal cars by a senior police officer.
These vehicles were even fitted with blue lights, allowing Matlala to move around as if he was a government official.
The commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseni Madlanga, is investigating allegations that senior politicians and police officials are entangled with organised crime networks.
Mkhwanazi’s testimony linked Matlala not only to corrupt officers but also to criminal syndicates operating in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
“This is a clear example of how criminal elements infiltrate law enforcement,” Mkhwanazi warned.
Matlala loses bail bid amid new evidence linked to AK-47
At the same time as his name dominated the commission, Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala suffered another blow in the courts. The Alexandra Magistrate’s Court denied him bail, ruling that he is both a danger to the community and a flight risk.
Magistrate Syta Prinsloo said Matlala failed to convince the court that he would not interfere with witnesses or skip the country.
Evidence presented showed suspicious travel records, including unexplained trips to Eswatini, and alleged business interests in Mauritius.
Even more troubling, a cellphone was discovered in his possession while he was detained — raising fears that he could continue running operations illegally from behind bars.
Matlala faces charges of attempted murder, money laundering, and defeating the ends of justice. These stem from the October 2023 shooting of his former partner, Tebogo Thobejane, who survived but later fled South Africa after receiving threats.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe revealed that firearms seized from Matlala’s alleged hitmen — including an AK-47 assault rifle and two pistols — have now been linked to 18 separate murder and attempted murder cases.
These include the killings of musician DJ Sumbody and his bodyguards, Vereeniging engineer Amand Swart, Don Tindleni, and DJ Vinto, as well as the attempted murder of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni.
Mathe explained:
“We were linking those firearms to 10 cases, but now the number has risen to 18. This shows the scale of violence connected to these weapons.”
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the bail decision, stating that it will oppose any appeal by Matlala’s legal team.
His case is scheduled to return to court on 7 October 2025, when prosecutors will attempt to centralise multiple charges against him.
For now, Matlala remains behind bars as investigators continue to dig deeper into a web of politics, business, and organised crime.