Uncovering the financial ties between Vusimuzi Matlala and Senzo Mchunu's campaign

The Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry this week heard how controversial attempted murder accused, businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala bankrolled suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's ANC presidential ambitions.

The commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, is looking into allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system.

A police investigator, identified only as Witness C due to safety concerns, told the inquiry that during an interview, Matlala informed him he was introduced to Mchunu and understood that he had ambitions to run for ANC presidency.

According to the witness, Matlala contributed R500,000 for flight tickets and accommodation for the people who were going to the ANC’s January 8 anniversary celebrations in Cape Town earlier this year.

Matlala told Witness C that he was afraid of discouraging Mchunu despite doubts about his chances of emerging victorious.

He added that Matlala demanded to know from Mchunu and ANC fixer and businessman Brown Mogotsi how they were going to protect him and also demanded immediate action as he faced imminent arrest for attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Witness C said he believes Matlala was able to make demands because he was one of the people who were contributing to Mchunu’s campaign for ANC presidency.

He said he sponsored what he described as Mchunu’s delegation to the ANC’s January 8 anniversary celebrations, and for that funding, he used Mogotsi's company, called Gotlhe Specialists, for the flights, accommodation, and entertainment for the delegates.

A list of delegates was given to Matlala by Mogotsi, according to Witness C.

The funding of Mchunu’s campaign was through money transferred to account numbers belonging to Mogotsi.

Matlala would also send proof of payment to Mogotsi.

Witness C said Matlala felt Mchunu, Mogotsi, and Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya were using him but were failing to protect him.

As a result, Matlala then went to see former police minister Bheki Cele in KwaZulu-Natal and was advised against opening false cases against the police and to withdraw the litigation against the police, which was done on December 24, 2024.

Matlala, after establishing he was going to be arrested, went into hiding, informing Mchunu and Mogotsi that the SAPS wanted to arrest him.

The three men communicated with each other via WhatsApp or Signal.

In the end, Mchunu refused to assist Matlala evade arrest.

"He told us the minister engaged State Security on his behalf and utilised grabber machines to pick the identities of the SAPS officials investigating him. Mogotsi sent him the vehicle registration numbers of the vehicles that came with the officers," Witness C testified.

Matlala also indicated to Witness C that this is how he came to know the identities of the two officers who played a key role in the operation.

When he went to KwaZulu-Natal to see Ndosi (Cele),  he was wearing the Rolex watch he had claimed had been stolen and had threatened to lay criminal charges against the officer.

Witness C said Matlala did not explain what assistance he would receive from Cele, who told him it was not good to lay false criminal charges against the police.

After meeting Cele, he tried to reach out to KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, but his attempts were unsuccessful.

Witness C said that during his interaction with Matlala, he felt frustrated as he wanted Mchunu to stop the police investigation into him.

In addition, on May 13, 2025, his R360 million contract with the SA Police Service was terminated.

Matlala later threatened to go to the High Court to expose his close ties with Mchunu.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za