A stunning narrative of high-level political patronage, alleged police protection, and a bitter falling out has been laid bare at the Madlanga Commission. Testimony revealed that businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is facing an attempted murder charge for the shooting of actress Tebogo Thobejane, claimed he was a key financier for suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s alleged campaign for the ANC presidency.
According to a witness known only as Witness C, Matlala boasted of his connections to Mchunu and North West businessman Brown Mogotsi after his arrest. The witness testified that Matlala said he was introduced to Mchunu when the minister “had ambitions to run for the ANC presidency” and was seeking donors.
The Price of Access: Flights, Hotels, and a R500,000 Tab
Matlala’s financial support was not abstract. Witness C detailed that the businessman allegedly donated approximately R500,000 to the cause. This money, funneled through his company, Gotlhe Specialists, was used to fund flights, accommodation, and entertainment for Mchunu and his delegation attending the ANC’s January 8 celebrations in Cape Town.
The testimony paints a picture of a transactional relationship, where financial backing allegedly bought Matlala access to the highest levels of law enforcement.
A Raid, a Rolex, and a Revenge Plot
The relationship was put to the test in December 2024 when police raided Matlala’s home. Furious, Matlala complained to Mchunu and Mogotsi. What followed, according to Witness C, was a concerted effort to harass and intimidate the investigating officers.
Instead of receiving immediate protection, Matlala was allegedly advised to launch a counter-offensive. This included:
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Opening a false case of stolen watches at a Brooklyn police station.
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Lodging a complaint with the police watchdog, IPID.
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Having his wife open an assault case against the raiding officers, which he refused.
Most alarmingly, Matlala claimed that Mchunu enlisted the State Security Agency to identify his investigators and that Mogotsi obtained the registration numbers of vehicles used by counterintelligence officers.
The Falling Out: “I Recorded Everything”
The partnership soured when a compliance inspection at Matlala’s security company revealed discrepancies, making his arrest imminent. Feeling betrayed and “used,” Matlala allegedly went into hiding and sought help from Mchunu and Mogotsi, but believed they had abandoned him.
In a desperate move, he even traveled to KwaZulu-Natal to meet former Police Minister Bheki Cele, who reportedly advised him not to fabricate cases against the police.
According to Witness C, the final straw came when Matlala’s police tender was cancelled. From his jail cell, a frustrated Matlala allegedly sent a message to Mogotsi, threatening to expose everything. He claimed he had recorded his interactions and planned to submit a detailed affidavit to police, exposing Mchunu and his “criminal dealings.”
The testimony presents a potentially devastating account of how a man accused of violent crime believed he could operate with impunity, protected by the very institutions meant to hold him accountable. For a commission investigating corruption in the justice system, it is a story that strikes at its very core.
{Source: TimesLive}
