'Mchunu used State Security Agency in aid of criminal accused'

ATTEMPTED murder-accused and tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala apparently told police arresting him that police minister Senzo Mchunu, who is currently on special leave, engaged State Security on his behalf and utilised (cellphone) grabber machines in order to pick up the identities of the SAPS officials investigating the controversial businessmen.

This was the testimony of Witness C before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating allegations of collusion and corruption between politicians, senior police, prosecutors, intelligence operatives, and elements of the judiciary.

Matlala, accused of masterminding the 2023 shooting of his ex-girlfriend actress Tebogo Thobejane, faces an attempted murder charge. He was denied bail by the Alexandra magistrate’s court, which found he posed a danger to society and may interfere with state witnesses.

Witness C is a member of the Gauteng counterintelligence operations unit, who was deployed from the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).  He was providing testimony on what Matlala told detectives after he was arrested for attempted murder.

Witness C told the Commission that he and his colleagues had, on 6 December 2024, gone to Matlala’s house to look for the kidnapped businessman Jerry Bashoga. 

He said this is what triggered Mchunu to engage the SSA to find the identities of the police who conducted the operation.

The witness stated that Matlala knew who they were and that some of them, including the commander, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, the Divisional Head of Crime Intelligence came from the PKTT.

Witness C said that on December 6, they did not find the missing businessman; however, they noticed some issues regarding the guns belonging to Matlala’s security company (CAT VIP Security).

He said that the firearm permits for employees of CAT VIP Security were digitally signed, raising concern that anyone can issue these permits, other than a designated Firearms Control Officer.

Witness C explained that later that month returned to Matlala’s premises with an SAPS compliance officer to deal with compliance issues regarding Matlala’s security company. He said there were discrepancies with the compliance and as a result, they confiscated the guns.

Matlala later told the detectives that he was introduced to Mchunu, who had ambitions to become  ANC president, and Matlala was asked to fund Mchunu’s campaign.

“He (Matlala) told us that the Minister engaged State Security on his behalf and utilised (cellphone) grabber machines in order to pick up the identities of the SAPS officials investigating him (Matlala). (Brown) Mogotsi thereafter sent him the registration numbers of the vehicles that came to his property. Matlala disclosed that this is how he came to know the identities of the two officers who played a key role in the operation.”

Witness C said Matlala then showed them proof of payment he had made towards Mchunu’s campaign, with the money transferred through a company registered under Mogotsi, who has been described as Mchunu’s comrade.

The witness said that the conversation with Matlala happened on May 14, 2025, the day he was arrested for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend.

According to Witness C, when Matlala was arrested, he was taken to Boksburg police station with the intention of detaining him; however, before that could happen, he requested to talk with the detectives.

“We requested an office there so that we could sit and hear him out. I was hoping that he would tell me where Jerry Boshoga was, because even today, Boshoga is still missing. So, we couldn’t close our ears to what Matlala was saying,” he said.

According to the witness, Matlala indicated that he was persuaded by Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, the suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, and Mchunu to register a case of theft of his Rolex against the team that raided his house in December 2024. Matlala further indicated that his Rolex watch was never stolen. 

“Furthermore, he indicated that he went to Brooklyn SAPS to open a case. He made an affidavit there, but the case was never registered because the items that he indicated were stolen were reflected on the SAP13 register (an administrative process), therefore, they found the case to be unfounded,” Witness C said. 

Matlala told the detectives that, with the assistance of Lieutenant-General Sibiya, the case was then opened at a police station in Soweto.

Witness C said that Matlala expressed frustration about the cancellation of his multimillion rand contract with the SAPS, which had been effected a day before Matlala’s arrest.

Cape Times