By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry evidence leaders shifted their focus on Wednesday morning, as the testimony of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala entered the fourth day.
The commission has been fielding questions about his links to controversial figures in the taxi industry who are also part of the Big Five crime cartel.
Matlala testified on Wednesday that his relationship with former KZN Hawks boss Lesetja Senona became closer after they attended the funeral of the mother of Big Five cartel leader and late taxi boss Jontham Msibi in 2020 or 2021.
The two had initially met at a wedding in 2019, according to Senona.
Matlala told the commission the pair subsequently discussed a number of issues, including his SAPS contract and the KZN-based Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
“This is someone that I shared my problems with,” Matlala remarked.
He indicated that Senona advised him to seek legal recourse after the contract was terminated by SAPS in May 2025 following allegations of irregularities.
The advice was contained in WhatsApp messages exchanged between the two on 13 May 2025, a day before Matlala was arrested in connection with the attempted murder of his former girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane.
Evidence leader Adila Hassim put it to Matlala that the WhatsApp exchange suggested Senona wanted the contract to continue.
“What General Senona says to you is, This is so sad. It leaves one with no choice but to seek legal advice on this issue, with a view to challenging the decision.”
“You respond, ‘True, my advocate advised I should make an interdict within 48 hours.’ And then he says, ‘Take them on, brother,’ and you say, ‘I am on it.”
“So that confirms that it’s in relation to the termination of the contract. He had an interest in your contract continuing, isn’t that so?” Hassim asked.
Matlala disputed the insinuation that Senona had a personal or financial interest in the tender, saying the former KZN Hawks boss had his “best interests” at heart.
He denied that Senona had received money or a fee linked to the contract.
Matlala also conceded that he told Senona about the raid on his home on December 6, 2024, by Gauteng Counter-intelligence officers working with the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
“I was worried that I was being robbed but as soon as I found out that it was the police, I explained to him what happened,” Matlala said.
Matlala’s laptop and cellphone were confiscated during the raid. He later asked Senona for a R20,000 loan.
Senona assured Matlala that he would make inquiries about the raid. Matlala said he later learnt from former police minister Bheki Cele that the PKTT was responsible.
When Hassim asked Matlala about the mutual business project with Senona, he refused to answer, saying the project was under investigation and that he did not want to incriminate himself.
He said he also met Senona’s son, Thato, who was attempting to secure a job at Ford in Mamelodi, where Matlala hails from. Matlala refused to provide further details about his dealings with Thato, saying they were also the subject of a police investigation.
Commission chairperson Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga pointed out that Senona had testified that the project in question involved the purchase of an apartment for rental purposes.
Matlala confirmed that the apartment was a mutual project involving him, Senona and Thato and said it cost less than R3 million. He then refused to answer further questions about the project.