The transfer of high-profile attempted murder suspect Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to a “super max” jail in KwaZulu-Natal is alleged to have followed fears that at least one senior correctional services official in Pretoria might be too close to him. “It was found that there seems to be links between the top official and Matlala,” a source in the department told the Sunday Times. “When Matlala was found with a cellphone last year, it seems he could have received it from a senior official.
In addition, Matlala has been receiving too many visits at the [Pretoria] prison, since remand inmates have unlimited visits, unlike convicted inmates, so he had to be moved.” Another source said the senior official was now under investigation. But correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo dismissed this account as false. “The allegations being suggested are without merit and have no factual basis.
It must be respected that correctional services does not conduct sensitive security operations, and for security reasons, certain details cannot be disclosed publicly,” he said. The tenderpreneur was transferred from the C-Max section of Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria to the super-maximumeBongweni facility in Kokstadon December 21. The department of correctional services only announced the transfer on Tuesday, saying it had been ordered as part of a “security assessment”.
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One of the sources in the department said the fact that most of the guards at Kgosi Mampuru II were from Mamelodi — Matlala’s home turf — was a problem. Many of the officials working at C-Max are from Mamelodi and that makes [Matlala] a security risk because he can easily get favours. This means the department doesn’t trust employed officials “Many of the officials working at C-Max are from Mamelodi and that makes [Matlala] a security risk because he can easily get favours.
This means the department doesn’t trust employed officials,” he said. Other sources in the department said Matlala was moved due to the possibility of attempts to kill him. Matlala himself is said to have feared someone might try to poison his food in jail.
“There was intel received that Matlala’s life was at risk, and that is why he had to be transferred,” one source said. Another department insider said Matlala was in eBongweni’s hospital wing, where he was being isolated from other inmates for his own safety. “He is kept in the hospital section and only EST [emergency services team members] and managers attend to him.
We are unsure of the exact threat, but we were informed that one exists. He is not injured. It is safe, and it’s for him not to be involved with other inmates for security reasons.”
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