Lawyers say police forced Cat Matlala to talk

By Palesa Matlala

• Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s testimony before the Madlanga Commission has been postponed until 1 September after his lawyers argued it could harm his upcoming criminal trial.

• Matlala’s legal team claims police questioned him for six hours without food or access to a lawyer and unlawfully obtained evidence that linked him to senior police officials.

One of the Madlanga Commission’s most anticipated witnesses will not testify until September.

Alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala won a postponement on Wednesday after his lawyers argued that giving evidence now could seriously damage his right to a fair criminal trial.

Matlala was expected to testify before the commission, which is investigating allegations of corruption, political interference and organised crime inside South Africa’s criminal justice system.

Instead, the hearing turned into a legal battle over how police obtained evidence against him.

His lawyer, Annalene van den Heever, told the commission that investigators acted unlawfully when they questioned Matlala after his arrest.

She claimed he was interrogated for about six hours without being allowed to consult a lawyer or receive food.

“On General Mkhwanazi, he got out because the client was forced unlawfully and unconstitutionally to answer questions. He was not allowed, for instance, to have access to a lawyer. He was questioned for six hours without food,” Van den Heever said.

She also told the commission that Matlala intends challenging the legality of the investigation and the evidence collected against him.

Matlala was arrested in May 2025 by the South African Police Service Political Killings Task Team in connection with the attempted murder of his former girlfriend.

During that investigation, police downloaded WhatsApp messages that allegedly revealed his extensive network of contacts with senior police officers and other influential figures.

Those messages later became central to the Madlanga Commission’s investigation.

Less than two months after Matlala’s arrest, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi publicly identified him as a key figure in what he described as the criminal infiltration of South Africa’s justice system.

Since then, Matlala’s name has repeatedly surfaced during the commission’s hearings.

Witnesses have linked him to allegations involving multimillion-rand police tenders, corruption, political influence and relationships with senior members of the South African Police Service.

His legal team also argued that he first wants access to material held by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption before giving evidence.

According to Van den Heever, that material played a role in the collapse of plea negotiations between Matlala and the State.

The commissioners, however, questioned that argument and said the plea discussions had nothing to do with the work of the commission.

Despite expressing reservations about the application, the commission granted Matlala more time.

Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruled that Matlala must submit his witness statement by 29 July.

His oral testimony will now begin on 1 September 2026 and continue until it has been completed.

“Mr Matlala must file his statement not later than 29 July 2026. The hearing of his testimony is postponed to 1 September 2026 to continue until the hearing has been finalised,” Madlanga ruled.

This is the second time Matlala’s appearance before the commission has been postponed.

His criminal trial is expected to begin next week, where many of the same issues raised before the commission are likely to come under scrutiny.

Pictured above: Alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala will now testify before the Madlanga Commission on 1 September after winning a postponement.

Image source: File