By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The underworld kingpin Vusimuzi Matlala appeared before parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system on Wednesday at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria, where he is being held.
Matlala raised concerns about possibly incriminating himself, but committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane assured him the rules protected him.
“When we administered the oath here, we read to you the relevant section in the rules that the evidence that you depose here under oath is part of the immunities you enjoy here (and) cannot be used against you anywhere outside these proceedings,” Lekganyane said.
Matlala pushed back, saying, “They cannot be used against me by who? If you say they cannot be used against me by the committee, that I understand. But if someone is investigating me and there’s someone that I’m saying now that can incriminate me, obviously, they will use it against me.”
Lekganyane responded, saying, “What we have read for you here comes from what we call a national legislation which is about the powers, privileges and immunities of parliament and provincial legislature.”
“So any person who has been invited to appear before parliament or a committee takes an oath, and the privileges and immunities that goes with you having taken an oath under that legislation is that any information or evidence that you depose before a committee or house of parliament cannot be used anywhere outside, “he said.
“So it means there is nobody who can come to you and say this is the evidence you deposed before a committee or house of parliament. It’s only parliament that has that exclusive right to use that evidence because you would have taken oath through us.”
Matlala said he still did not understand, adding: “And also whoever might be investigating me might say I heard this from my source and not from the committee and use that against me.”
He also denied having any personal or improper relationship with suspended deputy national commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.
Matlala said he found himself trapped between two warring centres of power inside the South African Police Service (SAPS) — suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu and his predecessor Bheki Cele.
He said he made large cash payments to both men, not being aware that they were fighting for influence within the SAPS. He said he paid the money to Cele and to individuals connected to Mchunu amid escalating tensions inside the police service.
Matlala testified that he had complained to Cele about businessman Brown Mogotsi, who he said was soliciting money from him. He said Cele advised him to play along because Mogotsi could “lead us to the minister “given his claim that he was acting under Mchunu’s instructions.
“[Cele] said to me that the problem is that minister Mchunu has got a problem with the police still loyal to him. Minister Mchunu wanted to remove Dumisani Khumalo as head of intelligence and put his own people [in],” said Matlala.
He admitted to making cash payments to Cele, but insisted they were linked to concerns for his safety following a police raid on his home during which his firearms and laptops were seized.
“I gave him R300 000, and on the second occasion I gave him R200 000,” he said.
He said Cele had framed the payments as a fee for assistance.
“I made an initial payment of R300 000 in cash around January [2025]. I handed over the money while he was inside my apartment. This was after he said he needed gratification, which he called ‘a facilitation fee’ related to his role in returning my firearms and stopping the harassment, “said Matlala.
He described a second payment of R200 000 in March 2025 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Durban.
“He asked me for money, and then he reminded me what he did for me. I’m not saying I felt I needed to pay him for what he did,” said Matlala.
He also said Cele requested accommodation in Pretoria, which Matlala provided. “He stayed at the apartment three or four times.”
Matlala testified that he also transferred large sums to Mogotsi, at the latter’s request, for accommodation and flights for ANC delegates attending the party’s January 8 celebrations in Cape Town.
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Video Courtesy of Parliament.