Attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has told the Madlanga Commission that former Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya was confident he would secure the advertised position of National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks.
The position was set to be vacant from 1 June 2025.
Matlala is continuing his testimony relating to his Section 204 statement.
Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act allows a witness who may be implicated in an offence to receive indemnity from prosecution in exchange for giving evidence, provided they answer all questions frankly and honestly.
Matlala is being led in evidence by Advocate Mahlape Sello.
Advocate Sello: In what context does General Sibiya have a conversation with you to tell you that he’s being appointed?
Matlala: He was confident that he was going to (get the role). I think I used the word wrong. He was confident that he would get that post.
Matlala, who has been testifying since Monday, alleges that Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) investigators wanted to use his statement to implicate three senior police generals. They include the National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, Crime Intelligence Head, Dumisani Khumalo and KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
He maintains that Mkhwanazi was their primary target and that they wanted to weaken his support base before dealing with him directly.
“Their main target, number one, is General Mkhwanazi, but they said they wanted to strip off his support base, meaning General Masemola.”
Matlala further claimed that IDAC officials took him from Ebongweni Prison in KwaZulu-Natal to the Sheraton Hotel for a meeting with investigator, Dylan Perumal.
He alleges that they discussed plans to “nail” the three generals and other individuals. He told Commissioner Sesi Baloyi that he was later taken to a McDonald’s near C-MAX Prison (Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre) before being returned to custody in the early hours of the morning.
Commissioner Baloyi: When then, in all of this, do you get to C-MAX? To Kgosi Mampuru because that’s where you land eventually.
Matlala: Yes.
Commissioner Baloyi: When do they drop you off there?
Matlala: I think it was in the morning. I think it was maybe four in the morning. That can be confirmed with C-MAX. But it was in the morning.
Minister Bheki Cele also featured in Matlala’s testimony. He claimed he paid Cele R500,000 in cash, in two instalments of R200,000 and R300,000.
However, he maintained the payments were not linked to the controversial Medicare24 contract, but were intended to help him recover firearms confiscated during a raid at his home.
Matlala also declined to reveal who instructed him to claim that Rolex watches and other valuables had been stolen during a December 2024 raid on his home.
Previous, testimony by Crime Intelligence head, General Dumisani Khumalo alleged that former Deputy National Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya had advised Matlala to open a theft case against members of the Political Killings Task Team.
Witness C also implicated former Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu and Sibiya in persuading Matlala to open the case, while alleged political fixer, Brown Mogotsi was linked to the events surrounding the complaint.
Matlala confirmed to evidence leader Advocate Thabang Pooe that he had been instructed to make the claim, but refused to identify who had given him the instruction.
Advocate Thabang Pooe: Yes, I accept. That you were told to say this?
Matlala: Yes.
Advocate Thabang Pooe: I won’t ask by who, because I gather you won’t answer me on this forum.