South Africa: Cat Matlala Testifies At Madlanga While Lawywer Fears Testimony Could Ruin Trial

What the report says

Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is due to testify under subpoena before South Africa’s Madlanga Commission, which is probing allegations of corruption, bribery and criminal interference in the police and judiciary. The hearing is set for Monday morning in Johannesburg, and the commission is expected to continue work toward a final report later in the year, according to the source article.

The commission has heard claims that Matlala used cash and relationships with police insiders to build influence in state institutions. Witnesses cited by the report include Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, who said messages involving Matlala and Brown Mogotsi suggested a close relationship with senior police officer Feroz Khan. The article also says Matlala has been accused of offering money to help Khan in a disciplinary matter and of telling Parliament in 2025 that he handed cash to former police minister Bheki Cele.

Separately, Matlala is facing a tender fraud case tied to a multimillion-rand healthcare contract with the South African Police Service. His lawyer had asked for his commission testimony to be postponed while a plea deal was finalized, but that arrangement collapsed in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. The report says Matlala rejected a proposed 12-year prison sentence and chose to go to trial instead.

Matlala remains in custody at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre while awaiting trial. His appearance before the commission could add further detail to wider concerns about alleged corruption networks inside law enforcement and the risks of political and police influence in South Africa.