Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that investigators from the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) once took him from Ebhongweni Supermax Correctional Facility to the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria for questioning.
Matlala said the incident happened after he had been transferred from Kokstad to Kgoshi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria.
He told the commission that IDAC officials had initially indicated that they would arrange his transfer, but prison authorities informed him that the move was linked to his appearance before the Madlanga Commission.
“They then served me with a warrant of arrest, and said we need to speak tomorrow morning,” Matlala said.
According to Matlala, the following morning, while he was being taken to court, IDAC officials told him that they had to arrest him to get access to the people they were interested in.
He said the investigators specifically mentioned General Fannie Masemola, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and General Dumisani Khumalo.
Matlala further testified that after his court appearance and consultation with the commission’s evidence leaders, he was returned to Ebhongweni Supermax.
He alleged that IDAC officials later returned to collect him, but instead of taking him directly to Kgoshi Mampuru, they drove him to the Sheraton Hotel.
Matlala identified the driver as Padayachee. He said that when they arrived at the hotel, the officials told him they wanted him to speak to their chief, whom he identified as Dylan Perumal.
He said the meeting took place at approximately 2am, after which they took him to a McDonald’s outlet near Kgoshi Mampuru.
Matlala claimed that during the journey, the investigators again asked him for information about the three police generals. When he said he had no information, they allegedly instructed him to contact General Lesetja Senona.
He said Senona did not trust that the person contacting him was Matlala and consequently did not provide any information.
Matlala told the commission that he was recounting these events because he believed some of the contents of the Section 204 statements had been drafted by IDAC investigators rather than originating from him.
His testimony comes amid a dispute over an unsigned statement prepared during negotiations for a plea and sentence agreement that ultimately collapsed. The commission’s chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, rejected an application by Matlala’s legal team to exclude the statement from the proceedings. (Mail & Guardian)
Matlala is appearing before the commission on 9 and 10 November 2026. (SAnews)
