News
Matlala Says Cele Took Cash Payments in Exchange for Protection
A Day of Explosive Allegations at Kgosi Mampuru
South Africa watched closely as Vusimuzi Cat Matlala returned to the stand for another day of testimony, and the revelations only grew more unsettling. The alleged leader of the Big Five cartel is currently detained at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre following his April arrest, yet it is his voice that has now become central to one of the most far-reaching corruption investigations in years.
Day two began with committee chair Soviet Lekganyane opening the session shortly after ten in the morning. The plan was clear. Two hours of evidence, then a long, intensive stretch until early evening. No one expected the day to unfold quietly, and it did not.
The R1 Million Claim That Raised Eyebrows
One of the most startling moments came when Matlala claimed that former Police Minister Bheki Cele initially asked him for a payment of one million rand. According to Matlala, Cele had been staying in his Pretoria apartment at the time and felt that the hospitality alone did not reflect enough appreciation. Matlala said he could only manage three hundred thousand rand at first, followed by another two hundred thousand later.
There is no longer a living witness to the original conversation. The only other person present, Bongani Mpungose, has since passed away. Even so, the committee pressed Matlala repeatedly on why he made the payments in the first place. His answer suggested a relationship where influence and protection carried a high price. He claimed Cele believed he had helped Matlala avoid deeper police interrogation after two December raids on his properties.
Adding to the surreal details, the first cash installment was allegedly delivered in a Woolworths shopping bag. Another payment happened with a full security convoy in tow, which Matlala described as a way to market his protection services.
More Claims and a Hidden Family Detail
The money story did not end there. Matlala testified that Cele asked him to settle accounts for a son who, according to him, the public did not know existed. The son was said to be an engineering student. Matlala claimed that he was expected to contribute yet again, although he did not go through with the additional three hundred thousand rand that was requested.
For many South Africans following the hearing online, these details painted a troubling picture of blurred boundaries between political office and personal gain. Social media has been buzzing with disbelief, especially around the idea of state officials allegedly receiving protection money from individuals they were expected to investigate.
A Broader Web of Influence Allegations
Matlala’s testimony soon stretched beyond Cele. Evidence leader Norman Arendse asked him to outline his relationships with both Cele and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Matlala reiterated previous claims that he had been asked for money to book accommodation for Mchunu’s associates and to contribute two hundred thousand rand to an ANC event.
His version of events also clashed sharply with Cele’s earlier testimony. Cele had insisted he did not know Matlala, yet Matlala described arranging transport and security for him for a wedding in Lanseria. He suggested that the payments were made for political protection and a promise from Cele that repeated police harassment would come to an end if he dropped his legal cases against certain officers.
Why This Inquiry Matters
What is unfolding in this committee room has implications far beyond the walls of Kgosi Mampuru. The inquiry was launched after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused senior figures of actively undermining key investigations. He alleged that structures meant to fight politically motivated killings were deliberately disbanded in a way that benefited criminal networks.
For a country deeply concerned about corruption, political violence, and weakened institutions, the allegations paint an alarming picture of how criminal syndicates may have gained protection at the highest levels.
What Comes Next
The committee will resume its hearings tomorrow. More testimony from Matlala is expected, and South Africans will be watching closely. The country wants answers and accountability. For many, this hearing feels like a rare moment of truth-telling in a space where silence has too often served those with power to protect.
If the claims are proven, the fallout could reshape public trust in the police, the justice system, and political leadership. For now, the nation waits for the next chapter in a saga that has already rattled the core of South Africa’s security institutions.
Also read: Inside Cat Matlala’s Explosive Testimony: R500k to Cele, Fearful Raids and the Mysterious ‘Brown Mogotsi Situation’
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
