Mkhwanazi defends secret meeting with alleged crime kingpin 'Cat' Matlala

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has justified his decision not to inform Parliament of a meeting with alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala.

Mkhwanazi stated that the meeting, which took place at an apartment in Umhlanga, Durban, last year, was strictly part of an investigation into Gauteng criminal networks and "nothing more."

The Provincial Commissioner addressed the Ad Hoc Committee investigating police corruption on Wednesday to explain why the meeting was previously undisclosed.

During his initial testimony in October last year, Mkhwanazi did not mention the encounter. However, Matlala himself brought the meeting to light during his own testimony at the end of last year.

While Matlala told the commission the gathering was intended to resolve challenges regarding his police contract, Mkhwanazi maintains the focus was purely intelligence-based.

He confirmed today that the meeting, also attended by former KZN Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona, occurred at Matlala’s request.

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"The meeting of 'Cat' Matlala, we did not see a need to present it because it was a meeting that was helping the investigation to uncover some truth about that which the team in Gauteng was investigating," Mkhwanazi stated.

According to Mkhwanazi, Matlala appeared "scared" during their interaction.

The commissioner explained that the sensitive nature of the information being shared was the primary reason for the initial secrecy.

"He was afraid of the people he was talking about and made it clear that what he’s sharing with me in straight language, you would refer to as snitching," Mkhwanazi told the commission.

Mkhwanazi further argued that because Matlala was providing information that could have compromised his and his family’s safety, he chose not to mention the meeting himself during his earlier testimony.