SAPS official defends asking suspected crime boss boyfriend for Ozempic

When the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry resumed hearings this week, few expected a diabetes drug to become the centre of testimony. Yet that is exactly what happened when Rachel Matjeng, the Section Head for Quality Management at SAPS, returned to the stand for a second day.

Her admission was simple, but the implications were anything but: she asked her boyfriend, alleged crime figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, to help her get Ozempic.

A Personal Request That Raised Public Questions

Matjeng explained that her request was made in the context of a romantic relationship. According to WhatsApp messages presented by evidence leaders, she had reached out to Matlala at a time when Ozempic shortages were common and legitimate access through pharmacies was difficult.

She told the commission that Matlala’s medical company had access to a chemist that stocked the drug, which is widely used for weight loss but primarily prescribed for diabetes.

In her words:
“Normally you would struggle to get it from the chemist, so they had a chemist they were buying Ozempic from. I then requested him as a boyfriend: ‘Can I have my Ozempic?’”

The Tender That Complicates Everything

Her testimony is unfolding under a heavy shadow. Matlala’s medical company recently secured a R360 million SAPS tender, a detail that elevates the commission’s concerns about blurred lines, personal influence, and professional boundaries.

For commissioners, the key question was whether Matjeng attempted to obtain the drug illegally or leveraged her partner’s business ties to bypass proper channels.

Matjeng Insists She Had A Prescription

Under pressure, Matjeng maintained that she had a valid prescription for Ozempic, and that her boyfriend’s involvement was simply about convenience during a national shortage.

Still, the exchange adds another complex layer to already-damaging revelations about the proximity between senior police officers and individuals suspected of criminal activity.

What This Means For SAPS

The inquiry’s work is far from over, but this moment speaks to a broader issue within SAPS: the difficulty of separating personal relationships from institutional responsibility. In a country where trust in policing is hard-won and easily lost, each testimony shapes public perception of integrity within the ranks.

As the commission continues, South Africans will be watching closely to see whether this was an innocent personal favour or another sign of systemic vulnerability inside the police service.

{Source:EWN}

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