Too Close for Comfort? Inside the Quiet Transfer of Cat Matlala and the Questions It Raised

A Sudden Move That Raised Eyebrows

When high-profile tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was quietly moved out of Pretoria just days before Christmas, it didn’t take long for questions to follow. The attempted murder accused was transferred from the C-Max section of Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre to the eBongweni super-maximum facility near Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal a move that has since sparked allegations of uncomfortable closeness between Matlala and a senior correctional services official.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) only confirmed the transfer this week, stating that it took place on 21 December 2025 following a security assessment.

Official Version: “Standard Practice”

DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo described the relocation as routine, stressing that transfers are guided by safety, security and operational needs.

He pointed to Section 6 of the Correctional Services Act, which allows the National Commissioner to detain any offender or remand detainee at a facility deemed appropriate, regardless of what appears on a warrant. According to the department, these powers exist to ensure safe, secure and humane detention, especially when enhanced security is required.

Allegations of Internal Compromise

But sources within the department paint a more troubling picture. According to claims reported by the Sunday Times, Matlala’s transfer may have been driven by fears of internal compromise, concerns that his life was in danger, and suspicions that he was manipulating officials.

One source alleged that a senior DCS official in Pretoria had links to Matlala and is now under investigation. The same source claimed that when Matlala was previously found in possession of a cellphone strictly banned in correctional facilities, it may have been supplied by a senior official.

Adding to the unease were reports that Matlala received an unusually high number of visits while held as a remand detainee at Kgosi Mampuru II.

Paranoia Behind Bars

Another source suggested intelligence indicated Matlala feared for his life. He was reportedly so paranoid that he asked warders to taste his food before eating, worried it might be poisoned, a detail that underscores the tension surrounding his detention.

Department Pushes Back

Nxumalo has firmly denied allegations of improper relationships, describing them as unfounded and lacking factual basis. He also said the department would not comment further on the specific security considerations behind the transfer due to their sensitive nature.

A Controversial Figure With Powerful Connections

Matlala was arrested in May 2025 for the alleged attempted murder of his former lover, Tebogo Thobejane. During testimony at the Mdlanga Commission, Witness C detailed how Matlala was arrested in Midrand after his vehicle suffered a puncture and how he allegedly claimed ties to senior police figures.

Several of those named, including former police minister Senzo Mchunu and ex-national commissioner Riah Phiyega, have denied any links to him.

Why This Case Resonates

In a country where prison corruption and political connections are often whispered about but rarely proven, Matlala’s transfer has become a lightning rod for public suspicion. On social media, many South Africans are asking whether the move was about safety or damage control.

Matlala is due back in the Johannesburg High Court on 29 January. Until then, his prison transfer remains less about geography, and more about the uncomfortable questions it has left behind.

{Source: The Citizen}

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