Parly ad hoc committee still waiting for confirmation of security arrangements for Matlala's appearance

The parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating police corruption is still waiting for security arrangements for murder accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala to be confirmed before his appearance, which includes avoiding any possible escape from custody.

Matlala is currently behind bars on murder charges at the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Security Prison in Pretoria, but is still a priority witness for the committee.

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The committee wants Matlala to appear before it to respond to several allegations of interference into police matters, the disbanding of the political killings task team (PKTT) and his links to people like Minister Senzo Mchunu, as well as former Police Minister Bheki Cele.

Matlala might be incarcerated on serious charges, but members of Parliament (MPs) are still expecting him to appear before the committee to answer to allegations of police corruption.

Matlala has been linked to an attempt to influence the disbanding of the PKTT through messages between him and another witness, Brown Mogotsi.

Matlala was also awarded a R300 million tender to provide health services to the police and is alleged to have used it to fund Mchunu's political campaign.

But committee chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, said his appearance would be facilitated by Correctional Services and law enforcement for obvious reasons, like escaping from custody.

"There are security arrangements that they must make so that when a person is here, he must not escape in our presence and they say: 'No, you are the ones who said we must bring him here'. All those things, I think they know the law and the protocol they should follow."

The committee resolved that Mogotsi must appear from 18 November for three days, with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi expected back for a second time as the last witness.

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