Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has once again stirred controversy after testifying before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, claiming that he held a private meeting with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who allegedly asked him for a personal favour. Matlala, currently incarcerated at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility, delivered his explosive testimony on 26 November 2025, triggering widespread debate across South Africa.
Matlala said the meeting took place in April 2025 at The Pearls of Umhlanga. According to him, the session had been arranged by former Police Minister Bheki Cele and was meant to discuss his R360 million police tender, which he claims was being sabotaged. Matlala argued that Mkhwanazi told him he was aware of attempts to collapse the contract and pointed fingers at Lieutenant General Lineo Nkhuoa. He alleged that Nkhuoa was working with a previous service provider and attempting to terminate his tender due to financial incentives from the company.
The Ad Hoc Committee has been hearing Matlala’s testimony from within the correctional facility, with heightened security measures in place. According to the Department of Correctional Services, officers were placed on high alert, even guarding Matlala’s meals amid safety concerns. His legal team had requested a postponement of his testimony, citing poor prison conditions and the mental and physical strain of solitary confinement. However, the committee insisted that his evidence was crucial and proceeded with the hearing.
During the session, Matlala made the bold claim that General Mkhwanazi asked him to intervene in a case being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). He stated that Mkhwanazi told him about a man who had allegedly been tortured and who had opened a case against the commissioner. According to Matlala, Mkhwanazi wanted him to speak to the complainant—whom Matlala supposedly knew—and convince him to drop the charges. This allegation immediately set social media alight, with many South Africans expressing disbelief.
Online users compared Matlala’s remarks to those of Brown Mogotsi, another controversial figure whose testimony was widely disputed. Critics argued that Matlala’s claims were inconsistent and improbable, questioning why a senior police official would confide such sensitive information to a man facing serious criminal allegations. Many accused him of fabricating the story to protect himself or to create distraction amid ongoing investigations.
Matlala also expressed doubt about the immunity granted to him by the committee, saying he feared the information he provided could still be used against him. His testimony further touched on former Police Minister Bheki Cele, whom he claimed had received around R500,000 from him—directly contradicting Cele’s public denials.
As the hearings continue, reactions remain sharply divided. Some South Africans believe Matlala is exposing deeper corruption within law enforcement, while others insist his statements are exaggerated and self-serving. For now, his testimony has only intensified scrutiny of the police, the tender system, and the political factions entangled in the ongoing inquiry, setting the stage for further revelations as the committee proceeds.
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