Ex-police minister Bheki Cele was an ‘extortionist’ who asked me for R1m, says ‘Cat’ Matlala
Ex-police minister Bheki Cele was an ‘extortionist’ who asked me for R1m, says ‘Cat’ Matlala, in a shocking testimony that has rocked South Africa’s parliamentary ad hoc committee. The organized crime accused, appearing in designer gear despite wearing leg irons, painted a picture of deep-seated corruption within the highest echelons of the police force.
Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, currently an awaiting-trial prisoner at Pretoria’s Kgosi Mampuru Prison, did not hold back during his second day of testimony on Thursday. Facing charges ranging from attempted murder to fraud, Matlala turned the spotlight away from his own alleged crimes and focused on his interactions with political heavyweights.
Bheki Cele and the Alleged Cash Payments
The core of the testimony centered on the relationship between the witness and the former police minister. Ex-police minister Bheki Cele was an ‘extortionist’ who asked me for R1m, says ‘Cat’ Matlala, alleging that the relationship was transactional and based on financial demands.
On Wednesday, Matlala had initially claimed he gave Bheki Cele R500,000. However, on Thursday, he escalated these claims significantly. “He asked for money… he actually wanted R1-million,” Matlala told the stunned committee members.
According to Matlala’s version of events, the payments were split:
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R300,000 Cash: Handed over around January at Matlala’s Pretoria apartment. This was described as a “facilitation fee” to ensure police officers stopped harassing him and to secure the return of seized firearms.
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R200,000 Cash: Allegedly handed to Cele at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga around March.
Matlala described using a Woolworths shopping bag, which he termed “the money bag,” to transport the cash withdrawn from ATMs. He alleged these transactions took place in the presence of the late Bongani “Mabonga” Mpungose, a mutual associate who was fatally shot in Sandton earlier this year.
When Evidence Leader Norman Arendse SC questioned why these explosive details were missing from his typed statement, Matlala cited the conditions of his incarceration: “I forget a lot of things. I’m locked in a cell for 23 hours a day… so, my brain is not functioning well.”
Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala vs. The MPs
The atmosphere in the committee room was tense. Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, dressed in a black Fendi ensemble estimated to cost over R20,000, presented himself as a victim of a corrupt system. However, MPs were skeptical.
The DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach dismantled his “businessman” persona. “You are not the naive person you’re trying to portray. In my view, Mr. Matlala, you’re not a businessman, you’re a crook… and you’re corrupt,” she stated firmly. Breytenbach read a laundry list of his past legal run-ins, including a 2001 conviction for residential robbery and withdrawn charges for cash-in-transit heists and attempted murder.
Despite this, Matlala maintained his narrative, insisting that Ex-police minister Bheki Cele was an ‘extortionist’ who asked me for R1m, says ‘Cat’ Matlala, and that he was merely paying to survive the pressure from law enforcement.
The Mystery of the Jerry Boshoga Kidnapping
The proceedings took a darker turn when the subject of the Jerry Boshoga kidnapping was raised. Boshoga, a friend of Matlala, disappeared on 18 November in Centurion and remains missing.
Matlala admitted to the committee that he had lent Boshoga R1 million, ostensibly for cattle farming. However, revelations about “20-litre drums” containing substances used to manufacture narcotics surfaced during the testimony. Matlala claimed Boshoga’s brother had contacted him for help moving these drums on the night of the kidnapping.
In an emotional exchange, EFF leader Julius Malema urged Matlala to address Boshoga’s mother, who was watching the proceedings and believed Matlala was involved in her son’s disappearance.
“I’ll say, Mama, you know me and your son are very, very close friends… Your son was like a young brother to me. I would never do anything to harm your son or your family. I’m sorry,” Matlala said.
When pressed on whether Boshoga was still alive, Matlala offered a grim assessment, suggesting that at some point, a captive becomes a “liability” to their abductors.
Controversy Over the Medicare24 Police Contract
Beyond the cash bribes and kidnappings, the inquiry delved into the lucrative Medicare24 police contract. Matlala’s company was awarded a R360-million tender to provide PPE and other services to the police, a contract that was later cancelled—but not before Matlala had pocketed R48 million.
MPs questioned why Matlala had resigned from the company and transferred ownership to his sister. Malema accused him of “fronting” to hide his involvement while retaining shares. Matlala defended the move, stating, “It’s not like I was using her; she’s family… she was getting a salary.”
It was revealed that Matlala had met with KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to complain about delayed payments regarding this contract. He alleged this meeting was orchestrated by Bheki Cele, further linking the former minister to his business dealings.
Conflicting Testimonies
While Ex-police minister Bheki Cele was an ‘extortionist’ who asked me for R1m, says ‘Cat’ Matlala, Cele’s version of events stands in stark contrast. In his own testimony, Cele admitted to meeting Matlala and staying at his penthouse but vehemently denied receiving money. Cele claimed Matlala was introduced to him as an informant with information on Crime Intelligence infighting.
As the ad hoc committee continues its work, the credibility of both men is under the microscope. The investigation into whether a drug trafficking cartel has captured South Africa’s criminal justice system relies heavily on unpicking the truth from these contradictory stories.
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Conclusion
The testimony has laid bare the murky intersection of politics, policing, and organized crime in South Africa. With the repeated assertion that Ex-police minister Bheki Cele was an ‘extortionist’ who asked me for R1m, says ‘Cat’ Matlala, the pressure is now on Parliament to determine who is lying and how deep the rot truly goes.
Here are two references from South African mainstream media reporting on this testimony:
1. Daily Maverick
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Article: Ex-police minister Bheki Cele was an ‘extortionist’ who asked me for R1m, says ‘Cat’ Matlala
2. News24
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Article: ‘Cat’ Matlala claims he paid Cele R500 000 in cash in ‘shopping bags’
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