How Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's 'associate' and Matlala plotted capture of SAPS

SAPS divisional commissioner of crime intelligence Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo has disclosed Whatsapp messages linking Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s alleged associate Brown Mogotsi with controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.

The chats allegedly revealed efforts to infiltrate the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), payments to politicians, tender protection, disbandment of Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), links to crime intelligence and SAPS members, and access to the police minister.

Khumalo stated that Mogotsi used Matlala's funds to cover expenses for ANC members during this year’s January 8 Statement celebrations in Khayelitsha, Western Cape.

He told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry how Mogotsi's connections to Matlala have raised concerns about potential corruption and undue influence, and that they shared classified SAPS documents.

Khumalo alleged that Mogotsi leaked these documents while receiving payments tied to ANC events linked to Mchunu's supporters.

Mogotsi was also found to have a letter penned by Mchunu ordering the PKTT's disbandment on December 31, 2024.

Mchunu cited in the letter that the task team was not adding value to policing in South Africa.

During his testimony last week, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola argued that Mchunu overstepped his authority by interfering with the SAPS’s operational work by prescribing the "how" of disbanding the team.

Khumalo testified that Mogotsi allegedly pressured Matlala into depositing R37,000, which is 25% of the total amount of R140,000, into Gotlhe Travel, a travel agency, during a WhatsApp conversation on Christmas Day.

A message screenshot, initially sent to Mogotsi and later forwarded to Matlala, urged Matlala to make a payment.

It read in part that “if you don't make the payment by tomorrow, December 26, 2024, at noon we'll have to prioritise the next available client”. Matlala subsequently paid an outstanding amount of R111,000.

On New Year's Day, Mogotsi informed Matlala that the task team that had allegedly “harassed” him at his house had been disbanded.

Khumalo testified that following the circulation of the task team's disbandment letter, there was a lot of misinformation regarding the PKTT and himself as the team’s leader.

He cited a newspaper article about a robber walking out of the crime intelligence police office in East London, Eastern Cape, with R1.3 million in a bag.

Khumalo said the police’s investigation into the incident revealed the robbery was “staged” and subsequent actions were taken against the involved officers.

A captain among them faced criminal charges, while the other officers were charged departmentally. The matter, he said, was currently in court.

Part of the misinformation included Mogotsi's pursuit of disciplinary action against Khumalo by attempting to use a December 2024 Constitutional Court judgment to discipline him for a case involving a different individual with the same surname, Khumalo.

In a WhatsApp conversation, Matlala expressed frustration to Mogotsi about the cancellation of his contract with SAPS on May 13, 2025.

Matlala's message read: “I see you have been ignoring me and promising things that never happened. Luckily (I) took screenshots of every conversation just in case something like this might happen. I am taking all this to the media and some to court on Friday when I do the interdict.”

Mogotsi responded, seemingly downplaying the situation, saying: “We can't lose a contract when so many people are looking for tenders.”

Khumalo disclosed that Mogotsi seemed to be misinformed about the investigation into Matlala, believing the PKTT was handling the case when, in fact, it was being conducted by Gauteng counter-intelligence operations.

Khumalo's testimony continues Wednesday.

Cape Times