Inside the Madlanga Commission as Rachel Matjeng returns to the witness stand

Inside the Madlanga Commission as Rachel Matjeng returns to the witness stand

By the time proceedings resume on Friday morning, the Madlanga Commission will once again turn its focus to a testimony that has already gripped the country’s attention.

Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, a senior SAPS official and head of quality management within the police’s forensic services, is expected to continue answering questions after revealing her on-and-off romantic relationship with alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Her appearance has added a deeply personal layer to a commission tasked with probing allegations of corruption, political interference and criminal networks inside the justice system.

A relationship under the microscope

On Thursday, Matjeng confirmed that she had been involved with Matlala, who is currently facing an attempted murder charge and has been described during the commission’s hearings as a central player in alleged police corruption. She firmly denied claims that she received R300,000 in exchange for helping Matlala’s company secure a massive SAPS contract worth R360 million.

That contract, awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District, was later cancelled after it was declared irregular and corrupt. Matjeng told the commission that the money she did receive from Matlala was not a bribe, but gifts from a boyfriend during the course of their relationship, which she said began years before the tender was awarded.

Some of the funds were deposited into the bank account of a close friend, while another portion went directly into her own account. She insisted there was no link between these payments and any procurement process within the police.

Why this testimony matters

Matjeng’s role in the SAPS places her at the heart of concerns about integrity in critical policing units, particularly forensic and crime scene management. In a statement released late in January, President Cyril Ramaphosa named her among five senior police managers flagged by the commission for possible criminal investigation, pending the establishment of a special task team.

That development has amplified public interest, with social media users sharply divided. Some argue the commission is exposing long-hidden networks of influence, while others caution against conflating personal relationships with proven criminal conduct.

Who’s next in the hot seat?

Once Matjeng concludes her testimony, attention is expected to shift to businessman Suliman Carrim, whose appearance has been compelled by the Gauteng High Court. Carrim was identified by a key witness as a link between Matlala and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

It has been alleged that Carrim received R1.5 million from Matlala and later facilitated a meeting with Mchunu after the lucrative SAPS contract was terminated. WhatsApp messages shown to the commission suggest Carrim may have assisted with invoices and payments tied to the deal claims that he has yet to respond to under oath.

A broader reckoning for policing

Beyond individual names, the Madlanga Commission has become a mirror reflecting South Africa’s uneasy relationship with power, politics and policing. As hearings continue, the question many South Africans are asking is not just who crossed the line but how deeply those lines were blurred in the first place.

Friday’s session promises to bring more clarity, and possibly more controversy, as the commission edges closer to the heart of its mandate.

{Source: IOL}

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