Explosive testimony: All the police officers allegedly on ‘Cat’ Matlala's payroll
The Madlanga Commission has heard testimony that attempted murder accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala told detectives about all the senior police officers that had allegedly received money from him.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry heard damning evidence on Thursday that several senior police officers and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu all allegedly received large sums of money from businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.
According to Witness C, a member of the Gauteng counterintelligence operations unit, who was deployed from the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), Matlala himself allegedly confessed to the payments after he was arrested for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, Teboho Thobejane in May this year.
Witness C relayed that Matlala expressed his frustration when he spoke to the detectives as he claimed to have SAPS top brass ‘in the palm of his hand’ but they could not protect him or prevent his arrest.
Matlala is currently in jail after his bail appeal was denied in the Gauteng High Court earlier this week. The Alexandra Magistrate's Court previously denied him bail.
It is alleged according to Witness C's evidence that Mchunu, who has denied wrongdoing, and the following police officers all received money:
Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu
Matlala claimed he transferred money to a company registered by Brown Mogotsi, who would then pass it on to Mchunu. Mogotsi has been identified at the commission as an 'information peddler' who was in contact with several high-ranking police officials. Matlala said he contributed to Mchunu’s campaign and sponsored the minister’s delegates to the ANC's Jan 8 statement event in Cape Town, and he paid an amount close to R500,000. Matlala said he had bank statements to back up this claim.
Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya
Matlala told the detectives that suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya and KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona helped him (Matlala) to secure a multimillion-rand SAPS tender, which was later cancelled by Mchunu.
Matlala said after every payment for the SAPS tender, a portion of the payment would be given to Sibiya, sometimes R1 million per month.
Matlala claimed he had also paid R500,000 to Sibiya. When Sibiya’s son was getting married, Matlala claimed he paid R300,000 to Sibiya to fund the wedding celebration. Matlala indicated he gave Sibiya R2 million in cash towards the purchase of a bed & breakfast establishment.
Matlala said in one instance Sibiya allegedly told him to leave money in the dustbin located in a bathroom in Sibiya’s office. He left R200,000 in a bin. He claimed that he also gave Sibiya 20 impalas. Sibiya has denied allegations of wrongdoing.
Sergeant FE Nkosi
The witness also said that Matlala claimed that on occasion, money would be moved through Sergeant FE Nkosi, from the national office of the Organised Crime Unit. The Commission heard that Matlala would transfer money to Nkosi, and Nkosi would take some and drop off the rest with Sibiya.
Major General Feroz Khan
Witness C said Matlala told police that SAPS counter-intelligence head, Major General Feroz Khan, allegedly demanded R2.5 million, but Matlala only gave him R500,000. Matlala further alleged that Khan would regularly use his penthouse in Menlyn.
Major General Richard Shibiri
The witness said that the national head of the Organised Crime Unit, Major General Richard Shibiri, allegedly received R80,000 from Matlala through a company named Black AK Trading. However, Shibiri expressed unhappiness with the electronic transfer. The money was then returned to Matlala’s account and later given to Shibiri in cash.
The commission resumes on Monday.