Former police minister Bheki Cele has accused his successor, Senzo Mchunu, of having his alleged presidential ambitions bankrolled by businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is currently facing attempted murder charges.
Cele made the explosive revelation during his testimony before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of corruption and criminality within the police and criminal justice system. The inquiry was convened following claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who alleged that Mchunu was influenced by criminal syndicates to disband the political killings task team.
‘Funding project linked to Mchunu’
Cele told the committee that Matlala had confided in him that a police raid on his home was part of a broader scheme to fund Mchunu’s political campaign within the ANC.
“He [Matlala] said he met Mchunu and Brown Mogotsi, and that they spoke about funding Mchunu’s project of becoming either president or deputy president of the ANC through a R360-million SAPS tender,” Cele testified.
According to Cele, Matlala claimed that Mchunu had cautioned him against associating with Cele and former president Jacob Zuma. “He said the minister told him they’d work together, but that he must not get close to me or Zuma. I don’t know why he mixes me up with Zuma,” Cele added.
Cele further testified that Matlala had alleged Mchunu was plotting to have him arrested over the 2010 FIFA World Cup accommodation tender, which had been subject to media scrutiny.
Mchunu denies any links
During his appearance before the same committee earlier in the week, Mchunu denied knowing Matlala or having any relationship with him.
Evidence leader Norman Arendse SC told Mchunu that a witness would soon testify that Matlala had indeed financed his political ambitions, but Mchunu dismissed the claim as baseless.
This exchange followed questions about whether Mchunu had asked Matlala and businessman Brown Mogotsi to arrange a dinner in Cape Town in January — a suggestion he also rejected.
Similarities in disbandment letters
Cele also raised concerns about a letter Mchunu allegedly wrote directing the disbandment of the political killings task team, claiming it bore striking similarities to a previous letter by KwaZulu-Natal violence researcher Professor Mary de Haas.
“The headline says, ‘Your failure to follow ministerial instruction and disband the political killing team is negatively impacting policing work in KwaZulu-Natal.’ I found similarities in the wording — even the word ‘immediately’ appears in both,” Cele told the committee.
De Haas had written her letter in October 2024, before Mchunu’s directive was issued.
Concerns over elite police resignations
Cele further revealed that dozens of Special Task Force members were resigning to join the private security and taxi industries for better pay.
“I’ve spoken to Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi, who told me that we’ve lost 56 members of the Special Task Force to the taxi industry. Training one member costs R1.1 million,” Cele said.
He added that 23 former members of the army’s special task unit had joined a private company linked to Matlala. “I saw them at a funeral of a taxi boss — there were more guns than flowers,” he remarked.
MK Party questions Cele’s conduct
During questioning, MK Party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo criticised Cele’s handling of an alleged plot to frame crime intelligence boss Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.
Cele had testified that Matlala informed him that suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya had encouraged him to open a false case against Khumalo, claiming Khumalo had raided his house and stolen valuables.
Cele said he discouraged the move and advised Matlala to speak directly to Khumalo instead.
Nomvalo, however, said Cele’s actions were “irresponsible and reckless.”
“You should have reported the matter so police could open a case,” Nomvalo said. “You participated unnecessarily by making a political intervention in a matter that required law enforcement attention. We are now sitting with a person who was not punished for attempting to commit a crime because of your intervention.”
