The man at the centre of the Mkhwanazi, Mchunu storm: Who is Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala?

He’s 49, flamboyant, allegedly corrupt, and rolling in multimillion-rand tenders - Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, but who is he? 

Known for his flamboyant lifestyle and multimillion-rand state tenders, Matlala has recently become a central figure in explosive allegations of fraud, violent crime, and high-level corruption.

Matlala rose to prominence through a series of lucrative contracts with the South African government. In 2024, his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, secured a R360 million contract to provide health services to South African Police Service (SAPS) employees.

According to internal documents, the deal generated over R48 million in profits before being abruptly cancelled by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.

Masemola cited procurement irregularities and alleged that the contract was awarded under questionable circumstances. The SAPS has since launched a full-scale investigation.

His business activities came under further scrutiny when Matlala's name was linked to the Tembisa Hospital scandal, one of the biggest corruption sagas in Gauteng’s health system.

The scandal, which was brought to light by whistleblower Babita Deokaran before her assassination in 2021, involved nearly R3 billion in allegedly fraudulent payments. Forensic audits have shown multiple tenders connected to Matlala’s network flagged as suspicious.

In May 2025, Matlala was arrested and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to kill, stemming from a 2023 plot to assassinate his former partner, actress and entrepreneur Tebogo Thobejane.

Evidence presented by investigators includes WhatsApp messages in which Matlala allegedly ordered the hitman to “shoot her in the face so that her family does not recognise her.”

His wife, Tsakani Matlala, was also arrested in connection with the plot. Police raids conducted on his property uncovered unlicensed firearms, a R200,000 Rolex watch, and documents linking Matlala to a private security company, CAT VIP Protection, which authorities believe served as a front for broader criminal activities.

Perhaps most damning are allegations made public by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi during a press briefing on Sunday, July 7, 2025. 

Mkhwanazi stated that Matlala was "at the center of a sophisticated criminal syndicate operating at the highest levels of the state."

He accused Matlala of using his fortune to manipulate the political and justice systems for personal protection.

According to Mkhwanazi, “Mr Matlala financially supported high-ranking politicians, funded gala dinners, and paid for travel expenses in exchange for political cover and interference in investigations.”

He further alleged that over 120 criminal case dockets had been compromised or removed under Matlala’s influence.

Mkhwanazi’s claims implicated current Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and former intelligence operative Mogotsi.

Mkhwanazi claimed that Matlala bankrolled Mchunu’s events and provided transport and accommodation for his entourage.

Responding to the accusations, Mchunu’s spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi said: “Minister Mchunu has never requested or received anything from Mr Matlala."

“Furthermore, while the minister knows and has met Mr Brown Mogotsi, he is just a comrade and not an associate of the minister.

Mogotsi also said Mchunu initiated a review of the SAPS tender awarded to Mogotsi when suspicions of possible wrongdoing surfaced. 

“It was the same tender which has since been terminated,” said Mogotsi.

Amid speculation about Matlala’s ties to powerful public figures, confusion emerged around a cache of weapons discovered in Durban during a 2024 police raid at the mansion of celebrity businesswoman Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize.

Initial claims linked the firearms to CAT VIP Protection, Matlala’s private security firm. However, further investigation clarified that the ammunition found on MaMkhize’s property belonged to businessman Vusi Xaba, not Matlala.

Although the firearms were legally owned, they had been stored unlawfully, prompting additional legal scrutiny.

This correction came after an initial public statement by DA police committee chair Ian Cameron, who later acknowledged the mistake, noting that the guns were misattributed to Matlala in error. 

While awaiting trial, Matlala remains detained at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria. His incarceration took another twist on Sunday, July 7, when prison authorities discovered a mobile phone hidden in his cell during a surprise search.

Commissioner of Correctional Services Makgothi Thobakgale confirmed the incident, saying, “On Sunday morning, we did a surprise search and we found a cellphone in his possession.”

He added that the device has been handed over to SAPS for further investigation. The presence of the phone has raised fears that Matlala may have been directing operations or communicating with associates from behind bars.

Matlala has since been moved to the C-Max section of the prison and is considered a high-risk inmate.

''Cat Matlala is at C-Max correction facility because of a classification. He is classified as high-risk but also secondly, we continue to do searches, especially these types of searches that we did last night," Thobakgale told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday morning.

Matlala is scheduled to appear in Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on July 11, where he faces charges including attempted murder, conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, and fraud.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za 

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