Attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala pulled out all the stops to avoid the cancellation of his company’s R360m tender with the police, paying large sums of money to police minister Senzo Mchunu’s connection Brown Mogotsi to spend on ANC events.
This is evident from the testimony by SAPS head of crime intelligence Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo at the Madlanga commission on Tuesday.
Khumalo presented the commission with text messages between Mogotsi and Matlala.
The messages were retrieved from Matlala’s cellphone when he was arrested on May 14.
The communication between the two started after the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team and the Gauteng counter-intelligence operations team raided Matlala’s property on December 6 2024 and his business premises on December 19 2024. Firearms were seized.
According to a message on December 25 2024, Mogotsi told Matlala that a deposit for accommodation and flight packages (for the ANC’s January 8 conference) for about eight people had to be paid.
Matlala sent Mogotsi proof of payment of R38,000 for an accommodation deposit made on December 27 2024.
Mogotsi further asked Matlala to make an outstanding payment of R111,000. He listed other payments, including a request to book a R100,000 table at the ANC presidential gala dinner for the conference, adding: “This will allow me to handle everything and the minister.”
Mchunu has admitted Mogotsi was his “comrade”.
Evidence leader Adila Hassim said that while investigating the account from which the accommodation deposit was paid, the commission found more transactions involving money sent to Mogotsi.
“Today is the D-day on the other side. I also think you should stand back,” Mogotsi told Matlala on the day Mchunu issued the task team deactivation directive on December 31 2024.
On the same day, Mogotsi asked for money: “Is it possible for you to intervene on memberships of two regions at R12,500 each? Today we must pay.”
On January 1, the messages show Mogotsi told Matlala the task team “that came to your house and harassed you has been disbanded”.
Political party matters
The messages show Mogotsi made requests for other payments regarding political party matters.
Mogotsi told Matlala the dockets of the task team investigating high-profile murders would be withdrawn from the team by deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya.
Mchunu’s directive did not address the withdrawal of the dockets. A total 121 dockets were withdrawn in March and April.
Khumalo said Mogotsi knew about supposedly secret police operations.
He said that after the deactivation letter there was a plan to charge him and ensure he faced disciplinary action.
A screenshot of a conversation between Mogotsi and a person saved as “Mchunu” shows Mogotsi told the minister about a Constitutional Court judgment criticising a police decision involving a police officer named Khumalo.
Mogotsi told Mchunu that Khumalo should face disciplinary action.
The crime intelligence boss said it was a case of mistaken identity because the top court judgment was not referring to him but to another Khumalo.
The phone records show there was interest in the hiring of Brig Dineo Mokwele, and Mogotsi obtained classified information on her.
Khumalo was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on June 26 regarding the hiring of Mokwele. He is out on bail.
Khumalo said his arrest was planned to stop investigations of the task team after it targeted Matlala. He said he and Mkhwanazi were also smeared on social media.
Matlala asked Mogotsi to set up a meeting with then police ministry chief of staff Cedrik Nkabinde after an audit was done on his company for nonperformance.
Mogotsi sent him a verified contact of Nkabinde.
In March, the relationship shifted when Matlala caught wind that Mchunu was the one who had asked for his tender to be scrutinised.
After he had again asked for money, Matlala told Mogotsi in March: “This relationship shouldn’t be one-sided, brother. I asked you several favours which are not even money-related, but none of them have been attended to.
“The last one is even worse because it was orchestrated from your camp, and nothing has been done about it. I’ve played my part and was even willing to stretch my arm even further, but I see none of my efforts are considered,” Matlala said.
Matlala’s tender was cancelled in May.
Chats named Dlamini are from Matlala.
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The commission hearings continue.
Update: September 30 2025
This story has more information.
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