Pretoria court to rule on plea deal that would make ‘Cat’ Matlala state witness

A Pretoria court will on Wednesday decide whether to accept a plea agreement that would jail alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala for an effective eight years and turn him into a state witness against senior police officers.

Decision due in specialised court

Magistrate Ignatius du Preez is due to deliver his ruling in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court after Matlala pleaded guilty last week to seven counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering linked to a R228 million South African Police Service health tender awarded to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.

Terms of the plea agreement

Under a section 105A plea and sentencing agreement negotiated with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption over about two months, Matlala agreed to become a state witness in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The state proposed a total sentence of 15 years, with seven years suspended, leaving an effective eight years behind bars. The suspended portion is conditional on Matlala giving full and frank testimony in future trials, remaining in the country until after 2030, and relinquishing his firearm rights. Unlike a section 204 agreement, he was not granted immunity from prosecution.

Matlala’s companies, Medicare24 Tshwane District and Cat VIP Protection Services, would each pay a R1 million fine suspended for five years.

Admissions and procurement irregularities

Matlala admitted that he had irregularly secured the tender and paid bribes to police officials involved in awarding it. He acknowledged paying more than R300,000 to Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, a police forensic services official who was in a romantic relationship with him and who referred SAPS members to his company for medical screening.

The tender was advertised at about R360 million, but the contract was awarded to Matlala’s company for about R228 million. It was awarded in June 2024 and cancelled in May 2025 after an internal audit flagged irregularities; by then Matlala’s company had been paid about R50 million.

Court concerns and state view

Du Preez raised several concerns before reserving his decision, including who would care for Matlala’s children if he were jailed and whether the conditions attached to his cooperation were clear enough.

State advocate Santhos Manilall said the deal had provided prosecutors with direct evidence against senior decision-makers. He said:

“For the first time, we have an accused who has come forward and has given us details that we would not have been made aware of, evidence that we would not have been able to obtain.”

Wider case and related charges

Matlala was one of 17 people originally charged in the matter. His co-accused include about a dozen senior police officers linked to the committee that awarded the tender, Medicare24 managing director James Murray, and suspended national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who was charged separately by summons.

Masemola faces charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act and remains out on warning. That part of the case was postponed to August 28 to allow the state to amend the charge sheet after Matlala’s plea.

Matlala’s profile and other proceedings

Matlala, described in court as a security boss from Mamelodi and the owner of Cat VIP Protection Services, is being held as a high-risk inmate at the C-Max section of the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre. He also faces a separate trial on 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, arising from three shooting incidents between August 2022 and January 2024.

The allegations form part of the wider inquiry by the Madlanga commission into corruption within the criminal justice system.

Defence plea for leniency

Matlala’s lawyer, Advocate Hlawu Maluleke, urged the court to show leniency and said Matlala was the primary caregiver for six of his minor children. Maluleke told the court:

“He is 100% responsible for all of their living expenses, their support, that would include issues like school fees and medical-related expenses that have to do with his minor children.”