Madlanga Commission hears how agreements between EMPD and 2 companies were unlawful

Retired Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy commissioner Revo Spies has highlighted how the agreements between EMPD and two private companies were fundamentally unlawful and irregular.

Spies, testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria, is unpacking two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) that EMPD irregularly entered into with two companies of criminally accused tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

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• Madlanga Commission hears how Matlala entered into working relationship with EMPD
• Death threats, gross misconduct and criminal investigations into certain EMPD cops
• More explosive claims about acting EMPD head Julius Mkhwanazi's relationship with tender tycoon

Acting EMPD chief Julius Mkhwanazi has been fingered as the accounting officer who signed off on the MOU’s despite not having the authority to do so.

The MOU’s, signed in 2021 Mkhwanazi, would see two Matlala’s companies, Medicare24 and Cat VIP, granted privileges in exchange for donating vehicles to the City of Ekurhuleni, among other things.

The privileges included allowing Matlala’s medical company to use red lights as well as his security company to use blue lights.

Testifying before the Madlanga Commission, Spies said both MOU’s were fundamentally flawed and irregular.

“This will never pass a proper legal department or thorough scrutiny. It’s completely wrong, everything in here, the wording, the intention. This is all as if it was children drafting stuff and ‘we’re going to get it to adults that can actually look at it and make it better’.”

Spies highlighted a police operation in which Matlala’s security company assisted the Hawks and Special Task Force in a highly-risk takedown at OR Tambo International Airport, showing the reach of Matlalawithin law enforcement.

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