Inside Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s Alleged Capture of Ekurhuleni Metro Police

When the words “state capture” are mentioned in South Africa, most think of the Guptas or sprawling corruption cases in national government. But a new confidential report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) suggests that a smaller, localised form of capture may have taken root in Ekurhuleni and at the centre of it is controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

The Vehicle Scheme That Raised Alarm

According to the IPID report, signed off in August 2023 and referenced under Boksburg CAS 262/03/2023, Matlala allegedly orchestrated the fraudulent transfer of four city-owned vehicles from the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) fleet into the name of his private security firm, CAT VIP.

What makes the case troubling is that these transfers were processed on the National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS) between January and March 2023, with no official paperwork authorising the move. The city had even forked out R2,218 for registration and licensing costs, despite the vehicles never being delivered to municipal service.

Essentially, the cars vanished from the City’s books and reappeared under a private company.

How Was This Even Possible?

IPID’s investigation found that Matlala, using his influence, allegedly directed the City’s fleet manager to push through the fraudulent registrations.

Even more concerning is that the acting EMPD Chief of Police, Julius Mkhwanazi, was implicated for allowing irregular processes to unfold. The report makes it clear that chiefs and deputies don’t even have the power to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with private stakeholders authority that rests squarely with the City Manager’s office.

Yet, despite references to an agreement, IPID found no trace of any MoU in the EMPD archives.

In plain terms: the paperwork was smoke and mirrors.

A Case of Fraud and Corruption

IPID did not mince its words. Its conclusion was that Matlala had misrepresented the EMPD, securing benefits for CAT VIP while saddling the city with unnecessary costs.

The report states:

“Based on the evidence collected, the state has a strong case against the suspect as he acted unlawfully with full intent of corruption as the CAT VIP unduly benefited.”

Disciplinary action has been recommended against Mkhwanazi, and the matter has been escalated to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

City and National Response

The City of Ekurhuleni, through spokesperson Phakamile Mbengashe, confirmed that it is “already looking into these allegations” and cooperating with authorities. However, officials stressed that the matter has since been placed before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, making it inappropriate to provide further public comment until those proceedings conclude.

IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping echoed this position, saying the watchdog would not interfere with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recently established Commission investigating police services and political interference.

Why It Matters Locally

Ekurhuleni has long been a city where politics and policing overlap in uneasy ways. From contract battles to allegations of politically connected security companies, the metro is no stranger to accusations of blurred lines between public service and private enrichment.

The Matlala case, if proven, highlights how municipal-level corruption can mirror the national scandals South Africans know all too well: assets meant for communities being redirected into private hands through backroom manoeuvres.

Public Reaction and Questions Ahead

On local forums and community WhatsApp groups, residents have expressed frustration that service delivery vehicles assets intended to keep the city safer were allegedly siphoned into the hands of a businessman with political ties.

The scandal also reignites old questions: how deeply do private security firms, often run by politically connected figures, influence South Africa’s policing landscape? And if a metro police department can be infiltrated this way, what does that mean for accountability in other municipalities?

For now, Matlala’s alleged “capture” of EMPD resources is a test case, not just for Ekurhuleni’s leadership, but for South Africa’s broader fight to keep policing institutions out of private pockets.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com