‘I reserve the right not to respond in the event I incriminate myself’, were the words of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, during his testimony at the Madlanga Commission on Monday.
He was helped by his criminal lawyer Adv Annelene van den Heever, whose persistent interjections clashed with the Commissioners, after failing to answer allegations on his relationship with now suspended SAPS General Feroz Khan.
Dressed in green suit, designer eye-wear, the Mamelodi born also caught the attention of the country when he pointed out that ‘I actually hate him’ referring to detained Brown Mogotsi.
“I can confirm that I came to know of when he called me at the time the SAPS had raided my house. Prior to this incident I had no dealings with him,” Matlala said, who confirmed their relationship ended when he Matlala was arrested.
“He caused a lot of problems for me,” Matlala confirmed to the Commissioners, during the proceedings from evidence leader Adv Mahlape Sello.
He said he had paid Mogotsi R150 000 and R5 000 for the ANC’s January 8 conference in Cape Town after being advised to do so by former police minister Bheki Cele.
He said he also paid for ANC delegates’ flights.
Matlala said Mogotsi had tried to help him open a case after the raid at his home, and that they had met twice, during which Mogotsi had allegedly relayed messages from now suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Mogotsi by then, had advised Matlala to open a robbery case with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
“The way he was pushing me to open a case with Ipid, I figured that this guy and whoever he’s working with are really fighting with these people from the PKTT and I’m being used as a tool to fight that unit.”
“I want to place on record that I do not have any relationship with Minister Senzo Mchunu,” says Matlala on denying allegations that the minister disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) because they were harassing him.
“I’ve never met suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu,” he continued.
“Mr Cele said to me: ‘Mr Senzo Mchunu wants to fire General Dumisani Khumalo and replace him with General Feroz Khan in the position of crime intelligence’”.
On the matter of the impalas given to suspended Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya as a gratitude, Matlala said he did not want incriminate himself, that’s when his lawyer ven de Heever interjected.
He also testified that another controversial figure Hangwani Maumela was his friend and someone with whom he had previously conducted business, and was a director of Cat VIP Protection, at some time.
He also testified he had approached another controversial NW businessman Suliman Carim for funding for his company, Medicare24.
Another interjection was solicited from his lawyer, after Matlala was put into the corner and reveal more details, of which he did not.
Its unclear how much did he get from Carim whom, during his first testimony said he loaned Matlala R10m or R15m as per Matlala’s testimony that left many confused.
Carim has been subpoenaed to return at the Commission.
On his relationship with taxi bosses, the alleged cartel kingpin said he knew Steve Motsumi and that there was a commercial transaction which his company had lent Matlala R5m; and also associated with the assassinated and feared Jothan ‘Mswasi’ Msibi, whom he said met at his farm through Carim.
‘”Our relationship with Mr Msibi was purely professional and my company only provided security to his company. He was old and could not become my friend, that solicited a brief laughter inside the auditorium.
Matlala returns to the Commission on the date to be set.
Image provided (Vusi Cat Matlala says he knew taxi bosses but fails to confirm relationship with SAPS headhonchos.)
