Madlanga police witness links Vusumuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala to Deputy President Paul Mashatile

Police officer Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, also known asWitness F, told theMadlanga commissionthat businessperson and alleged leader of the Big Five CartelVusimusi “Cat” Matlalahad mentioned a meeting with Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Nkosi said Matlala had been looking for his credit card in November 2024, which he had left inside a jet ski at Hartbeespoort Dam. Matlala had phoned him multiple times, without success, because he was due to meet Mashatile and Deputy National Police CommissionerShadrack Sibiyaand needed his credit card.

“[Matlala] called me again, telling me that he needs the card urgently as he was going to meet the Deputy President Paul Mashatile, then he would meet General Sibiya after that,” said Nkosi. He said Matlala had planned to use the bank card that day, however, he could not confirm whether he had needed the card to pay Mashatile. “My understanding at the time is that he wanted the card as it was in my possession,” said Nkosi, confirming that it was Matlala who had brought up Mashatile in the conversation.

Mashatile has, however, denied any links to Matlala in a statement. In a statement on Monday, he denied ever meeting with Matlala and stated he has never met the alleged cartel leader. “Deputy President Mashatile categorically denies the claims,” said his spokesperson Keith Khoza.

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“Of significance is that the Deputy President does not know the individuals referenced in the testimony and has never had any association or dealings with them. “Of greater significance is that the Deputy President was out of the country at the time that Mr. Matlala purportedly met with him or intended to do so.” Numerouswitnesses have accusedsuspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of being incollusion with Matlala.

This is the first time Mashatile has been linked to Matlala, although Nkosi said he had not been privy to their interactions. Nkosi told the commission that Matlala had also requested the phone numbers of the South African Police Service (SAPS) head of organised crime, Richard Shibiri, KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Lesetja Senona and Sibiya. “I did send such numbers without suspecting anything as I know him as a legitimate businessman,” Nkosi said. “I confirm that I did not know Mr Matlala as a criminal; I only knew him as a businessman.” Nkosi said Sibiya would task him with work, including deployment in Musina where three suspects were arrested in 2022 for a cash-in-transit charge, which had drawn the pair closer to each other.

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