Alleged kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s long-awaited appearance before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, 17 August 2026, produced a mixture of denials, revelations and repeated refusals to answer questions, with the businessman repeatedly invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination.
Matlala had originally been scheduled to testify on 1 September, but his appearance was brought forward after the timetable in his separate criminal case was revised. He is facing attempted murder charges linked to alleged plots targeting taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni, music producer Seunkie Mokubung, also known as DJ Vettys, and his former partner Tebogo Thobejane. He is also facing criminal charges arising from the controversial Medicare24 SAPS health-services contract.
Matlala repeatedly invokes self-incrimination
Much of the day was dominated by arguments over which questions Matlala could answer without potentially prejudicing his pending criminal cases.
When questioned about Medicare24 and the SAPS contract, Matlala said: “I place on record that the Medicare tender has since been terminated. As already alluded [to], I am currently facing criminal charges with respect to the Medicare tender.”
He then declined to discuss the substance of the matter.
“In light of the current pending criminal charges referred to herein, I am unable to comment further on this matter in that I do not wish to give evidence that may lead to self-incrimination and therefore I claim that privilege against self-incrimination,” he said.
The R360 million Medicare24 contract, which was later reported as having a value of R228 million in some commission reporting, has become one of the central issues surrounding Matlala. The contract was awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District to provide occupational health and wellness services to SAPS members before being cancelled amid allegations of procurement irregularities. Matlala and senior police officials face criminal charges linked to the tender.
Matlala insisted, however, that his refusal to answer should not be interpreted as a refusal to cooperate with the commission.
“I do not want to incriminate myself”
Evidence leader advocate Mahlape Sello repeatedly attempted to get Matlala to respond to questions surrounding his business dealings, police relationships and financial arrangements.
But on several occasions his response was effectively the same: “I do not want to incriminate myself.”
Sello eventually challenged the extent of the claim, telling the commission: “This fear of self-incrimination has got limits in law and life.”
Among the issues Matlala refused to discuss was a loan from North West businessman Suliman Carrim. Matlala said the loan agreement formed part of an ongoing criminal matter.
“The loan agreement referred to herein is part of an ongoing criminal matter, and as such, I am unable to respond to the question posed in the paragraph under reply,” he said.
“I am of the view that I may incriminate myself by answering questions related to this loan agreement, as I believe it forms part of the Medicare criminal matter which is pending before court.”
He also declined to answer questions about his 2025 meeting with KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and allegations that he had donated impalas to suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.
Matlala admits knowing Carrim and visiting Jothan Msibi
One of the more significant pieces of evidence came when Matlala was questioned about Carrim.
Matlala confirmed that he knew Carrim and that he had obtained funding from him for Medicare24. He said the two became close because they both visited the late taxi boss Jothan Msibi.
“He also used to come and visit Mr Msibi at his farm and then because he will see me there now and then, we ended up being close,” Matlala told the commission.
Msibi, who died in 2024, has previously been described in testimony before the commission as an alleged leader of the so-called “Big Five” criminal network. Police witnesses have linked the alleged network to crimes including drug trafficking, cash-in-transit heists, tender fraud and contract killings.
Matlala’s testimony therefore placed Carrim in the same social orbit as Msibi, although there was no suggestion from Matlala that Carrim was involved in criminal activity.
Matlala also said Carrim had loaned him money, but he could not recall exactly how much of the loan remained outstanding.
Denies knowing Mchunu and Feroz Khan
Matlala was questioned extensively about his alleged relationships with senior police and political figures.
He was unequivocal when asked about suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
“I do not have any relationship with Minister Senzo Mchunu. I have never met Mchunu and have had no interactions with him, nor have I been at any gatherings where he was present,” he said.
He also denied ever trying to offer Mchunu a gift, benefit or inducement and rejected suggestions that he had attempted to secure favours from the minister through intermediaries.
Those denials are significant because previous evidence at the commission, particularly WhatsApp messages involving businessman Brown Mogotsi, has alleged that Mogotsi acted as an intermediary between Matlala and people close to Mchunu.
Matlala also denied having a relationship with Crime Intelligence deputy head Major-General Feroz Khan.
“I do not have any relationship with Major General Khan,” he said.
He added that he had never met Khan.
He similarly denied having relationships with Andrew Boy Mthethwa and Katiso Molefe.
But he confirms meeting Mkhwanazi
While Matlala rejected links to Mchunu and Khan, he confirmed that he had met Mkhwanazi.
He said he had met the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner once in Durban in early 2025.
“I asked for the meeting,” Matlala said.
According to his evidence, the discussion involved the cancelled Medicare24 contract and a warrant of arrest relating to his attempted murder case.
He refused to provide further details because he said the issues were connected to matters currently before the courts.
Matlala stressed that he did not consider himself to have a relationship with Mkhwanazi despite having initiated the meeting.
“Not my friend”: Matlala on Mike van Wyk
Matlala was also asked about his relationship with Mike van Wyk, the former Medicare24 CEO.
He refused to describe Van Wyk as his friend.
“My relationship with Mike van Wyk is a subject of a matter pending before the court,” Matlala said.
He again invoked his right against self-incrimination, explaining that Van Wyk had been CEO of Medicare24, the company at the centre of the SAPS tender criminal case.
“I do not wish to incriminate myself, as Mike was a CEO of my company, Medicare, the very same company that had a contract with SAPS. I therefore claim my right not to incriminate myself,” he said.
Matlala turns on Brown Mogotsi
One of the more striking moments came when Matlala addressed his relationship with Brown Mogotsi.
He said he first came to know Mogotsi when his home was being raided and insisted that, before that incident, they had not had dealings.
“Prior to this incident, I had no dealings with Brown Mogotsi,” Matlala said.
Matlala went further, accusing Mogotsi of presenting himself as someone from the office of the Police Minister.
He told the commission it appeared Mogotsi had used that representation to persuade him to provide financial assistance.
The evidence is particularly significant because previous commission evidence has placed Mogotsi at the centre of allegations concerning political access, payments and attempts to influence senior police officials on Matlala’s behalf.
Maumela connection also confirmed
Matlala also confirmed that he was friendly with businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela and had previously conducted business with him.
Maumela had at one stage been a director of Matlala’s Cat VIP Protection company.
His name has also emerged in investigations into alleged corruption surrounding the Tembisa Hospital procurement network. The Special Investigating Unit previously said three companies awarded contracts worth more than R13.5 million in the alleged syndicate were linked to Matlala.
Again, however, Matlala avoided providing extensive detail, citing the possibility of self-incrimination.
Questions about omitted names
Another revealing exchange centred on why certain names were not included in Matlala’s supplementary statement to the commission.
He acknowledged that some names had deliberately been left out.
“There are some reasons I did that deliberately, because I have reasons why I did not include them,” Matlala said.
The issue became particularly important because some of the names and relationships raised at the commission have previously featured in recordings and evidence alleging corruption involving senior police officials.
Matlala disputed aspects of those recordings but did not provide the commission with the full explanation it was seeking.
The bigger picture
Matlala’s testimony unfolded against a backdrop of months of evidence linking him to alleged organised crime networks and senior law-enforcement figures.
Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo previously told the commission that Matlala was allegedly part of the “Big Five” cartel and that businesses, particularly private security companies, were used as vehicles through which members could gain access to firearms and influence. Khumalo also presented WhatsApp communications involving Matlala and Mogotsi.
Matlala has consistently faced serious allegations but remains entitled to the presumption of innocence in his criminal matters unless and until convicted.
His own evidence on Monday offered the commission several clear denials: he said he had never met Mchunu, denied a relationship with Khan, rejected relationships with Mthethwa and Molefe, and distanced himself from Mogotsi.
But on the most sensitive issues — including the Medicare24 tender, his loan from Carrim, aspects of his meeting with Mkhwanazi and allegations involving senior police officials — he repeatedly declined to answer.
His testimony was therefore adjourned with many of the commission’s central questions still unresolved. Matlala is expected to return to the witness stand on Monday, 24 August, after his legal team prepares a supplementary affidavit.
The commission is expected to continue pressing him on the relationships, financial transactions and alleged police connections that have emerged throughout its investigation into criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
