The Madlanga Commission wrapped up its week of hearings on Friday with a dramatic session that saw Witness C continue his testimony on alleged corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the political networks tied to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
According to IOL News, Witness C — a member of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) — told the commission that Matlala had bankrolled the political campaigns of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
He alleged that Matlala funded Mchunu’s presidential campaign activities by covering flights and accommodation for ANC members attending the party’s January 8 event.
Testifying remotely for security reasons, Witness C linked Matlala to a multimillion-rand kickback scheme involving two senior police officers: suspended Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona.
He said Matlala claimed to have paid Sibiya and Senona cash after every SAPS payment his companies received.
“He would say that after every payment he received from SAPS, he paid Sibiya,” Witness C testified.
The commission also heard that Sergeant F. Nkosi, stationed at SAPS head office under Sibiya’s command, allegedly served as an intermediary in the kickback network.
Witness C further claimed that Matlala boasted about his ties to criminal activity, admitting involvement in drug trafficking and money lending, and that he had long-standing links to missing businessman Jerry Boshoga, who allegedly owed him R5 million.
In a separate revelation, the commission heard an audio recording in which Matlala can be heard telling members of the PKTT that Mchunu cancelled one of his lucrative government contracts after he refused to fabricate a case against Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and Witness C.
The recording was played during Thursday’s sitting and forms part of the broader evidence review by the commission’s forensic team.
Witness C said the fallout between Matlala and Mchunu “happened after the minister demanded that he use his influence to frame Khumalo.”
When he refused, Matlala allegedly claimed the contract was cancelled in retaliation.
“He said he had recorded everything and was going to expose everything, including his relationship with Minister Mchunu and General Sibiya,” Witness C testified.
The recording also supported earlier claims that Matlala had made monthly cash payments of R1 million to Sibiya and once gifted him R2 million to buy a bed-and-breakfast property in Midrand.
These transactions, the witness said, were “managed through middlemen” and formed part of a larger web of corruption that protected Matlala from prosecution.
In another section of testimony, Witness C described how former Police Minister Bheki Cele allegedly intervened to have theft charges against police withdrawn after Matlala’s home was raided in December 2024.
The raid had been authorised as part of a search for kidnapped businessman Jerry Boshoga, but Witness C claimed Cele’s action was aimed at “avoiding further embarrassment” for the ministry.
The week’s testimony painted a picture of deep-seated corruption within SAPS leadership and potential political interference in law enforcement. Commission chair Justice Raymond Madlanga said the inquiry would continue examining financial records and communications to verify Witness C’s claims.
The Madlanga Commission will resume on Monday, 3 November 2025, at 09:30 SAST.
Dive into our breakdown of Matlala, South Africa’s most powerful tenderpreneur, on our true crime podcast, Crime Central SA.
