‘No BBL, just Ozempic’: Cat Matlala’s cop ‘girlfriend’ tells Madlanga commission

Brigadier Rachel Matjeng testifies before the Madlanga commission at Brigitte Mabandla Judicial College in Pretoria on 6 February 2026. Picture: Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu A senior South African Police Service (Saps) official has rejected allegations that she underwent the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) cosmetic procedure, insisting that her only request to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was for the weight-loss drug, Ozempic. Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, who serves in Saps’ forensic services division, returned on Friday to testify before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry investigating criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system.

Matjeng is responsible for criminal records and crime scene management and was among several Saps officials named in the commission’sinterim reportfor further investigation. She played an oversight role in the implementation of aR360 million Saps contractawarded in June 2024 to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a healthcare subsidiary linked to Matlala. The contract was terminated in May 2025 after R48 million had been paid out.

Although evidence presented to the commission showed that Matlala made multiple payments to Matjeng, she denied that the money was linked to the tender. Instead, she maintained that the payments were personal in nature, telling the commission that she and Matlala were in anon-and-off romantic relationship. Continuing with her evidence on Friday, Matjeng was questioned about WhatsApp exchanges with Matlala in February 2025, in which Matlala asked her for a code that would allow him to submit claims for non-arrival fees.

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Matjeng explained that Matlala sought to claim for 337 police officers who had failed to attend scheduled medical surveillance appointments, out of a total of 553 bookings. She contacted Matlala to arrange additional appointments for officers who had not attended, arguing that this was done to minimise fruitless and wasteful expenditure for Saps.

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