Matlala rejects WhatsApp messages linking him to Mogotsi as fabricated

Alleged crime kingpin, Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, has rejected WhatsApp messages linking him to North West businessman Brown Mogotsi, saying his phone was tampered with.

Matlala told the ad hoc committee investigating police corruption that some of the messages between him and Mogotsi discussing the political killings task team (PKTT) were most likely fabricated to implicate him.

Matlala made the claims while giving evidence before the committee, which is sitting at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria earlier on Thursday.

The committee has heard how alleged information peddler and "fixer," Brown Mogotsi, has been accused of being the middleman between Minister Senzo Mchunu and Matlala. Matlala and Mogotsi are alleged to be the key link in the alleged criminal infiltration of law enforcement and the decision to disband the political killings task team.

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But Matlala questioned the authenticity of the messages between him and Mogotsi that were put to him before the committee.

"Remember I spoke to you about the WhatsApps and that some of them they are fabricated, and I said I want to address the chairperson about them."

He also denied any involvement in any decision to disband the PKTT.

"I don’t know what power I would have to disband the unit from the SAPS. What I heard from my affidavit is that thing was planned, I think, way back in 2019."

Matlala also downplayed his relationship with senior policemen and ministers.