Mkhwanazi accused of shielding 'Cat' Matlala for intel on Sibiya, Madlanga Commission told

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been accused of offering to hold off on a criminal investigation into Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala in exchange for intel on the former national Deputy Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya.

KZN Hawks head Lesetja Senona made the allegation while testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Senona confirmed he had a relationship with Matlala and that the pair were introduced at his wedding in 2019.

According to Senona, criminally accused tender tycoon Matlala was a close friend of his.

The pair were met at Senona’s wedding in Mamelodi in 2019. 

But when Matlala’s R36 million South African Police Service (SAPS) tender came under scrutiny, an alleged meeting with KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi was set up to try and resolve the issues around Matlala’s SAPS contract. 

Senona alleges he accompanied Matlala to an apartment in Durban, which he claims Mkhwanazi owns.

He said he overheard Mkhwanazi offering Matlala a deal - which would see the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) backing off from investigating Matlala in exchange for information on Sibiya.

“There I heard that he (Mkhwanazi) also offered to hold off on allegations of attempted murder against Mr Matlala of Tebogo Thobejane in exchange for information in relation to lt-general Sibiya, in that meeting.”

Matlala was arrested by members of the PKTT and charged with the attempted murder of his former socialite girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane last year.