By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, agreed that the 121 dockets linked to the political killings task team would be submitted to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, Cachalia and Masemola announced an agreement to boost the South African Police Service (Saps) capacity.
They said the agreement focuses on tackling political killings and pledged support for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Interference in the Criminal Justice System.
This comes after the acting minister and general disagreed over the return of case dockets that were taken from the political killings task team in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
On Thursday, 28 August, Masemola announced that the Saps will return the 121 seized dockets to the province and check them against original records for discrepancies.
On Friday, Cachalia, however, issued a statement lamenting the commissioner’s decision to return the dockets.
The police minister said that the political killings task team is integral to the allegations made by KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
“Importantly, that there [should] be prior consultation and regular reporting on important matters in the public and policy domains,” Cachalia and Masemola said.
The minister and commissioner agreed that Saps capacity must be strengthened to investigate councillor and public official killings.
They added that this capacity should also protect whistleblowers, professional auditors, and others who play a crucial role in the fight against corruption and organised crime.
“This capacity must be strengthened across the country where needed so that those who threaten our national security have nowhere to hide,” the two affirmed.
Cachalia and Masemola committed to safeguarding the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry’s integrity. They also pledged the support of Saps and all its members.
On Tuesday, 26 August, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga announced that the hearings would not commence on 1 September due to delays in procuring vital infrastructure.
Meanwhile the bail application of businessman Vusi ‘Cat’ Matlala has been postponed to next week Monday for the state to respond to the new bail affidavit by the defence.
Matlala is accused of being the mastermind behind the alleged failed plot to kill his ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, in Sandton in 2023.
He appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Matlala has already indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to all the charges related to the failed hit.
He told the court that police are trying to frame him to the crime, the 49-year-old said police have found nothing linking him to the crime.
He maintains that he’s not a flight risk and that he can afford R10,00 bail if granted bail.
“I am not a violent person, and the offences for which I was convicted do not involve any degree of violence or a threat implicit to other acts,” his affidavit was read out in court by his attorney.
“As a businessman who is easily traceable, as is evident from how easily my arrest was carried out, there is therefore no past history which would negatively impact my future conduct.”
However, state prosecutor Elize Le Roux, said there is likelihood that Matlala may evade trial if he is granted bail.
“The evidence against the applicant is overwhelming and if released on bail, he has a strong motive to evade justice. He has the means to leave the country at any time.”
“Information received currently is that he owns a private jet.”
The court heard that Matlala allegedly returned to the country illegally during his last international trip.
“The applicant has entered South Africa either by way of an informal border crossing or by way of another unknown method. This contributes to the suspicion that he’s a flight risk, even if he has a passport,” Le Roux added.
Matlala has previously been linked to irregular multi-million-rand government tenders, including the Tembisa Hospital looting that led to the assassination of whistleblower Babita Deokaran in August 2021.