The Madlanga Commission heard an audio clip of criminal tycoon, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala accusing suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of axing his multimillion-rand deal after he refused to fabricate a false case against Crime Intelligence boss Lt-Gen. Dumisani Khumalo.
Khumalo was the leader of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) at the time.
The May 14, 2025, voice recording, of Matlala speaking to Witness C, a PKTT member, captured him threatening to file an affidavit in the High Court to expose what he called Mchunu’s “criminality and abuse of power”.
On Thursday, Witness C presented the clip before the commission as evidence that Matlala and Mchunu have ties.
In the translated portion of the audio, Matlala is heard saying: “After I refused to open a case against you, the minister was angry and gave an instruction to cancel my contract. I heard from the meeting with generals that they got an instruction to cancel the contract. The letter was obviously going to be written by [Gen. Fannie] Masemola.”
Matlala’s reference is to National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who, according to prior testimony, implemented the cancellation of Matlala’s R360-million SAPS health services contract.
Witness C told the inquiry that Matlala had sent a message to businessman Brown Mogotsi on the morning of his arrest, vowing to file the affidavit implicating Mchunu.
“He was going to expose the minister because, after he refused to open a case against the police, the minister cancelled the contract,” Witness C testified.
Matlala was arrested later that day (May 14) after his Mercedes-Benz broke down on New Road, Midrand, when it hit a pothole.
Witness C clarified that police were not involved in a pursuit and that Matlala had simply been speeding before the incident.
The commission is expected to resume on Monday, with a new witness on the stand.
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