In a seismic day of testimony that laid bare allegations of deep-rooted corruption, the Madlanga Commission heard how accused crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala allegedly funnelled hundreds of thousands of rands into Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s political ambitions and paid millions more in monthly bribes to senior police officials, only to feel ultimately betrayed by them.
The anonymous “Witness C,” a member of the Political Killings Task Team, delivered a cascade of jaw-dropping claims, painting a picture of a police leadership allegedly for sale and a minister whose campaign was bankrolled by a man facing serious criminal charges.
A R500,000 Bet on a Political Future
The commission heard that in January 2025, Matlala allegedly donated R500,000 to sidelined Minister Senzo Mchunu for the ANC presidency. The funds were reportedly used for flights and accommodation for delegates attending the party’s 113th anniversary celebrations in Cape Town.
In a telling private moment, Witness C said he jokingly asked Matlala if he believed Mchunu would win. Matlala reportedly responded that he did not, “but was afraid to discourage him.” This alleged investment was made with an expectation of protection, which, according to the testimony, never materialised.
The “Cash-Only” Deputy Commissioner and the Dead Impalas
Even more staggering were the claims about suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. Witness C alleged Matlala paid Sibiya up to R1-million a month in bribes, insisting the senior officer was a “criminal who loves money” and would only accept cash.
The detailed allegations included:
- R300,000 in cash for his son’s wedding.
- R2-million for a plot of land to start a bed-and-breakfast, which Matlala claimed he handed over in a swift, clandestine cash drop in a Sandton estate.
- The plot was reportedly stocked with 20 impalas, which have since died.
A Web of Payments and a Frustrated “Blesser”
The web of alleged payouts extended further. Major General Feroz Khan, head of counterintelligence, was said to have demanded R2.5-million, of which Matlala claimed he paid R500,000. Another officer, Major General Richard Shibiri, head of the Organised Crime Unit, allegedly received R80,000 for his promotion party.
The testimony portrayed Matlala as an increasingly frustrated benefactor. After his arrest in May 2025—and the cancellation of his R360-million police tender—he allegedly lamented, “I’m funding the person who has all the power to make things happen for me, yet that person gives me no assistance, only extends a receiving hand.”
He felt that despite his payments, Mchunu, Sibiya, and alleged middleman Brown Mogotsi had failed to protect him from investigation, leading him to “spill the beans” to investigators.
These revelations present the most detailed picture yet of the alleged “Big Five” cartel’s operations and its purported infiltration of the highest levels of South Africa’s law enforcement and political spheres.
About The Author
