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R1 Million in Woolies Bags: Matlala’s Explosive Bribe Claims Against Bheki Cele
South Africans are no strangers to political drama, yet even by our standards, the latest testimony before Parliament has left the country stunned. It involves Woolworths shopping bags, quiet hotel handovers, a red Jeep, and a claim that a former police minister asked for R1 million in cash.
At the centre of it all is Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, a man currently being held at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre after his arrest earlier this year. He faces several serious charges, from conspiracy to commit murder to allegations linked to a R2 billion fraud scheme at Tembisa Hospital. Despite the weight of his legal troubles, it is his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee on police corruption that has seized national attention.
Payments in Woolies bags
Matlala told the committee that former police minister Bheki Cele allegedly demanded R1 million from him. He claims he managed to pay half of that, delivered not in envelopes or briefcases but in Woolworths bags. According to his account, he handed over R300 000 on one occasion and R200 000 on another.
Cele has previously denied having any financial dealings with him. Matlala insists otherwise.
He says he often withdrew money through his sister after stepping down from his company and then carried it back to his Menlyn penthouse in those now infamous Woolies bags. He also claimed that Cele would sometimes stay there for days at a time.
One of the handovers took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Matlala recalls having lunch before handing over a bag of cash at Cele’s red Jeep. It reads like the script of a political thriller, except it is unfolding in real time before Parliament.
A memory under pressure
Committee evidence leader Norman Arendse SC pressed Matlala on the amount. Why mention the full R1 million only now? Matlala replied that solitary confinement has taken its toll. He is locked up for nearly the entire day with no television or radio and says he forgets things under those conditions.
His testimony remained firm, however. He emphasised that he cannot always control what he remembers but insists the payments did happen.
High-level links
The committee is not only looking at Cele. Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu is also implicated. Arendse reminded Matlala that these figures sit at the top of government and that accuracy is crucial.
Matlala described how he travelled with a sizeable private security detail when meeting Cele. He explained that the entourage served both as protection and as part of his company’s branding. The committee also heard his claim that Cele once asked him to buy a house in Trafalgar for someone described only as a son, though no identity was provided.
Meetings arranged behind closed doors
One of the most striking parts of his testimony was a meeting arranged by Cele at The Pearls of uMhlanga. It brought Matlala face-to-face with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Matlala says he raised concerns about tender access and police obstruction. He claims Mkhwanazi promised to look into it but never followed up.
That detail matters because the committee itself was created after Mkhwanazi made explosive accusations last year. He alleged that senior political figures and police leaders had worked to block investigations into drug cartels and politically linked killings in KwaZulu-Natal.
He later accused Mchunu of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team at the end of 2024, a move he saw as protection for politically connected suspects, including Matlala.
A nation watching
With every session, the inquiry grows more tense. South Africans are watching closely, trying to make sense of claims that link top government officials to criminal networks. Social media has erupted with disbelief and frustration. Many say the Woolworths bag detail has become a symbol of how brazen corruption can feel in daily life. Others are urging caution, reminding the public that the allegations must still be fully tested.
Matlala’s testimony is far from over. What is clear is that these proceedings could reshape public trust in institutions meant to keep the country safe. The committee continues its work, and a country waits to see what will be revealed next.
Also read: Matlala Says Cele Took Cash Payments in Exchange for Protection
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Inside Politic
