By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption and political interference in the justice system heard Vusimuzi Matlala testimony at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria.
Matlala faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
Aside from those charges, he has also been accused of being part of a crime cartel known as the Big Five.
Matlala denied this on Thursday.
It was his second day as a witness before the committee that is investigating accusations that a drug trafficking cartel has infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system, and political and private security sectors.
There was a focus on a 6 December 2024 police raid at Matlala’s home in Pretoria.
During the raid, Matlala was asked about Jerry Boshoga, who had been reported as kidnapped on 18 November, in Centurion. He is still missing.
Matlala testified that Boshoga was a good friend of his, and he had lent him R1-million. Boshoga still had to repay him around R100,000, he said.
Boshoga was involved with cattle farming, and Matlala understood this was what the money was needed for.
He testified that on the night of Boshoga’s kidnapping, his brother contacted him. Matlala said that Boshoga told his brother he needed his help to fetch 20-litre drums.
“Inside the drums is some stuff that Jerry used to buy to manufacture his narcotics,” Matlala testified.
He was not sure what kind of drug would be made.
The EFF’s Julius Malema told Matlala that Boshoga’s mother had contacted him (Malema) and asked Matlala “to return” her son, because she believed Matlala was behind the kidnapping.
Matlala said she was being misled by the very people who had put him in jail.
Malema told Matlala to address Boshoga’s mother, as she was watching Thursday’s proceedings.
Matlala responded: “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.”
Another issue focused on during Thursday’s proceedings was the awarding of a R360-million police contract to Matlala’s company Medicare24 Tshwane District. The contract was subsequently cancelled.
Malema asked why Matlala had “resigned” from the company and transferred its ownership to his sister.
Matlala said he did this because the allegations against him were likely to tarnish the company’s image.
Malema accused him of fronting, as he had retained his shares.
Matlala replied, “It’s not like I was using her; she’s family … she was getting a salary.”
At the time of cancelling the Medicare24 contract, Matlala had already been paid R48-million, the ad hoc committee heard.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is the source of the accusations that sparked the creation of the ad hoc committee.
Matlala testified on Thursday that he met Mkhwanazi in April at The Pearls of Umhlanga, an apartment and shopping complex.
This meeting, Matlala said, was planned by Bheki Cele after Matlala had complained to Cele about “not getting purchase orders and my payments are being delayed” from the police.
It appeared this was related to the Medicare24 contract.
Matlala said his close friend, KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona, drove him to meet Mkhwanazi.
(Senona is set to testify in January at a hearing running parallel to the ad hoc committee and investigating the same accusations, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.)
At the meeting, Mkhwanazi allegedly told Matlala about Lieutenant General Lineo Nkhuoa, the police’s human resources head.
Matlala understood that to be helped with his contract, he would need to assist Nkhuoa and Mkhwanazi with some issues.
Throughout it all, Matlala portrayed himself as a businessman who happened to know several police officers, including former acting commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of Parliament.