By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Madlanga commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system, chaired by retired deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, heard that suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu received large amounts of money from businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Witness C, a member of the elite Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), began his testimony after he could not complete it last week because he was writing exams.
Witness C testified about the search and seizure operation that police conducted at the home of alleged criminal cartel member Matlala.
He told the commission that Matlala paid R500,000 to fund Mchunu’s bid for the ANC presidency.
These revelations, according to Witness C, emerged during an informal meeting with Matlala on 14 May 2025, where he disclosed the details shortly before he was arrested.
At the time of his arrest, Matlala had reportedly been coming from the home of former national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, who has since denied the claims.
In a statement on Thursday, Phiyega said Matlala had never visited her home and that she had never met him.
The alleged payment related to Mchunu’s ANC ambitions was made in January 2025, when ANC members attended the party’s 113th anniversary at Cape Town’s Mandela Park Stadium, Khayelitsha, on 11 January 2025.
Witness C also alleged that Matlala also paid suspended Deputy National Commissioner of Crime Detection Shadrack Sibiya up to R1-million a month in bribes, including R2-million to purchase a plot and 20 impalas, which have since died.
The commission further heard that Matlala allegedly contributed R80,000 towards a party celebrating the promotion of Major General Richard Shibiri, head of the SAPS Organised Crime Unit.
Another senior officer implicated was Major General Feroz Khan, head of counterintelligence at Crime Intelligence, whom the commission heard had demanded R2.5-million from Matlala, of which only R500,000 was allegedly paid.
He added that after every payment for the SAPS tender, a portion of the payment would be given to Sibiya by Matlala, sometimes R1 million per month.
Matlala told the detectives that Sibiya and KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona helped him (Matlala) to secure the multimillion-rand SAPS tender, which was later cancelled by Mchunu.
The witness also said that, on occasion, money would be moved through Sergeant FE Nkosi, from the national office of the Organised Crime Unit.
The Commission heard that Matlala would transfer money to Nkosi, and Nkosi would drop it off with Sibiya.
These allegations demonstrate the possible rot within the top brass of SAPS and how the “Big Five” cartel allegedly infiltrated political and law enforcement circles.
Matlala faces a string of serious charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice, linked to incidents that allegedly unfolded in Johannesburg between 12 and 17 October 2023.
He is accused of plotting the murder of his socialite girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, and two other complainants. His co-accused, wife Tsakani Matlala, Nithabising Nzama, Musa Kekana and Teigo Floyd Mabusela, are also charged alongside Katiso “KT” Molefe over the April 2024 murder of Q Tech engineer Armand Swart in Vereeniging.
The commission of Inquiry is investigating allegations of collusion and corruption between politicians, senior police, prosecutors, intelligence operatives, and elements of the judiciary.