Cele initially wanted R1m cash payment, not the R500k that was paid, Matlala tells MPs

Controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has told Parliament's ad hoc committee probing police corruption that former minister, Bheki Cele, initially wanted a cash payment of R1 million, not the R500,000 he ended up paying.

Matlala is continuing to give evidence before the Parliament ad hoc committee, with more evidence being led around the payments he allegedly made to Cele on two separate occasions. 

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The controversial businessman is giving evidence from the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria, where he's awaiting trial for attempted murder. 

He told the committee that his sister withdrew the cash because she was the director of his Medicare24 company after his resignation as a director.

But Matlala said the only person who witnessed the cash exchange and could back up his claims was dead. 

"He actually wanted R1 million. I gave him R300,000, and then I gave him R200,000, like I mentioned. And the day I decided to stop, I was supposed to give him R300,000 again, but that never happened. It’s when I decided to stop taking his calls."