Audio Leak Deepens Scandal: Matlala Accuses Mchunu Of Axing R360 Million Tender

The political storm surrounding suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has intensified after an explosive audio recording was played before the Madlanga Commission this week.

In the recording, controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala can be heard accusing Mchunu of cancelling his R360 million health services contract with the South African Police Service (SAPS) after he allegedly refused to fabricate a criminal case against Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.

Inside The Explosive Recording

The May 2025 recording, reportedly captured during a private conversation between Matlala and a member of the Political Killings Task Team known as Witness C, paints a picture of political pressure and personal vendettas at the top of South Africa’s law enforcement structures.

In the translated portion played to the commission, Matlala alleges that Mchunu “gave an instruction to cancel the contract” after he refused to open a false case. He even names National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola as the official who executed the cancellation order.

The recording also captures Matlala threatening to file an affidavit in the High Court to expose what he described as the minister’s “abuse of power.”

The Arrest That Raised Eyebrows

Witness C told the inquiry that Matlala sent a message to businessman Brown Mogotsi on the morning of his arrest, vowing to reveal everything about Mchunu. Hours later, his Mercedes-Benz hit a pothole on New Road in Midrand and broke downmoments before his arrest.

While speculation swirled on social media that the arrest might have been a setup, Witness C insisted that police were not pursuing Matlala and that he had simply been speeding.

Public Reaction And Political Fallout

Online, South Africans expressed a mix of disbelief and resignation. “Another week, another scandal,” one user wrote on X, while another said, “If this audio is real, we’re past the point of denialour institutions are compromised.”

Political analysts say the recording, if authenticated, could have significant consequences for both Mchunu and SAPS leadership. It adds to the perception of deep factionalism and blurred lines between politics and policinga theme that has haunted South Africa’s post-apartheid security apparatus.

What Happens Next

The Madlanga Commission will resume on Monday with a new witness expected to testify, potentially deepening the inquiry into what some are calling “one of the most damaging corruption sagas to hit SAPS in recent years.”

For now, the audio has reignited public frustration with state accountability, as South Africans once again ask whether power in high office can ever be exercised without personal agendas.

{Source:IOL}

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