How former police minister Cele helped Matlala retrieve firearms and halt SAPS probe

Controversial murder suspect Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala has testified about how former police minister Bheki Cele intervened to stop a series of aggressive raids and harassment by the South African Police Service (SAPS) targeting him in late 2024.

Matlala was testifying before the Parliament Ad hoc committee established in October 2025, tasked with investigating allegations of corruption, political interference, and infiltration by criminal syndicates within SAPS.

On July 6, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused senior police officials and politicians of deliberately undermining police operations to protect drug cartels and criminal networks connected to politically motivated killings.

Mkhwanazi alleged that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu disbanded the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on December 31, 2024, allegedly to shield Matlala and other criminals with political connections. 

Matlala, who has been in custody since his arrest in April, faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit murder. 

He is allegedly linked to fraudulent financial transactions at Tembisa Hospital and is accused of orchestrating the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane. 

During his testimony on Wednesday, Matlala told the Ad Hoc Committee about an alarming raid on his Waterkloof Ridge residence in December 2024. 

Masked officers reportedly stormed his home in the early hours of December 12, ordering his family - including four of his children - to lie on the floor. 

Matlala said that over the course of seven hours, the officers confiscated his cellphones, watches, his personal firearm, and the firearms belonging to two security guards at his gate.

“One man identified himself as Colonel Khumalo,” Matlala said. “They refused to give me any document to confirm the seizure of my belongings.” 

Despite trying to report the raid at the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria, Matlala said officers initially refused to open a case, forcing him to seek legal counsel.

Following the botched attempt to register a complaint, Matlala was contacted by a man named Brown Mokgotsi, who claimed to be from the office of the police minister. 

Mokgotsi is a North West businessman and alleged political operator who also testified before the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday last week about political interference in the SAPS.

According to Matlala, Mokgotsi advised him to open the case at another station before it would be transferred back. 

Notably, Mokgotsi is linked to suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, raising questions about undue political interference.

A second raid followed on December 18 at Matlala’s business offices, during which all his firearms were seized. He described how his wife, Tsakani Matlala, was manhandled and suffered bruises during the police harassment campaign.

Feeling cornered, Matlala said an EFF political figure, Bongani Mpongose from KwaZulu-Natal, contacted him with an offer of help. 

“I drove to KwaZulu-Natal and met former minister Cele at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Mhlanga,” Matlala revealed. At that meeting, Cele reportedly acknowledged the raids and urged Matlala to drop any complaints.

“I told Cele I would lay charges, but he said I should drop the case. He promised to call Lieutenant General Khumalo to make it clear that I was no threat, and that I was caught up in what he called the ‘Zulu war’ and that Pretoria must stop harassing me,” Matlala said.

Matlala added, “Cele told me as soon as I went back to Pretoria, I should collect my firearms - and I did.”

ANC MP Khusela Diko questioned what Cele meant by the ‘Zulu war,’ to which Matlala replied, “I still don’t understand what that meant.”

EFF leader Julius Malema asked whether Colonel Khumalo, who led the raid, was Lt Gen Dumisani Khumalo, head of Crime Intelligence, whom Cele had called. Matlala responded that he wasn’t certain.

Matlala also testified that Cele frequently visited his Pretoria apartment, explaining details of the elite Political Killings Task Team and discussing the political dynamics within SAPS. 

Matlala claimed Cele advised him not to ignore Mokgotsi, emphasising the latter’s importance despite apparent interference in police work.

Matlala’s testimony paints a complex picture of how political influence and official intervention intersected to end what he described as an unjustified and intimidating campaign against him.

thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za

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