How is Vusi ‘Cat’ Matlala linked to the police corruption allegations?
Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu is in the spotlight amid corruption allegations. Clement Manyathela interviews investigative reporter Jeff Wicks and KZN violence monitor Mary de Haas.
Vusimuzi Matlala (right) appeared at the Alexandra Magistrates Court on 15 May 2025 for attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder against his socialite girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane. Picture: Jabulile Mbatha/EWN
702’s Clement Manyathela speaks with Jeff Wicks, an investigative journalist at News24, and Mary de Haas, a violence monitor in KZN and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of KZN’s School of Law.
Listen below:
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accuses Minister Senzo Mchunu and others of corruption.
Mkhwanazi alleges that Mchunu was involved with a criminally accused businessman, Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, who sought to dismantle the political killings task team.
“He is a controversial figure with underworld links that stretch back many years.”
- Jeff Wicks, investigative journalist - News24
News24 has been investigating Matlala since 2022 after finding out he had been profiting from the 'Thembisa hospital scandal'.
Last year, he received a R360 million Health Services Tender from the police, which was cancelled days before his arrest.
“The same organisation that is investigating him for fraud in the Thembisa matter is now paying him to do their health services.”
- Jeff Wicks, investigative journalist - News24
De Haas has worked with the police for decades and is sceptical about the work the political killings task team was doing.
“The task team is there to cover up. I am absolutely sure they are there to cover up for politicians.”
- Mary de Haas, violence monitor in KZN
She feels that it was not Mkhwanazi's place to raise concerns about syndicates across South Africa, and that he should focus on what is happening in his province.
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