Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala Sceptical To Testify Amid Criminal Investigations

• Attempted murder-accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala expressed concerns that his testimony could be used against him in a court of law
• Matlala testified before the Ad Hoc Committee at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Tshwane, where he gave his testimony
• Despite attempts by the committee chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, and Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema, Matlala was not convinced
• Crime expert Dr Tinyiku Ngoveni spoke to Briefly News about the progress of the Ad Hoc Committee

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

PRETORIA, GAUTENG — Attempted murder-accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala raised concerns when he appeared before the Ad Hoc Committee on 26 November 2025 that his testimony could be used against him in criminal investigations.

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Matlala began his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre. His legal team was unsuccessful in postponing his testimony due to unpreparedness.

During the proceedings, the Committee's chief evidence leader, Norman Arendse, made enquiries about the R362 million tender that his company, Medicare24, received from the South African Police Service to provide healthcare services. The proceedings hit a snag when Matlala began hesitating to continue responding to Aendse's questions.

Matlala is not comfortable with immunity

Matlala expressed that he was not comfortable with testifying and answering some of the questions Arendse asked about the SAPS tender. When asked why, he explained that he was not confident that the immunity the Ad hoc Committee afforded him would be valid. The Committee chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, assured him that when he took the oath, the oath included giving him immunity from prosecution on anything he testified to.

Matlala was still not convinced, so Arendse explained to him how immunity works. The Economic Freedom Fighters' president, Julius Malema, quipped and also assured him that the statements he makes during his testimony may not be used against him.

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Malema also responded to Matlala's concerns that investigators would use his testimony and claim that the statements made were from another source. Malema said that the investigator would have to reveal the sources. Matlala requested to consult with his legal team during the break.

Why is Matlala testifying?

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held a press briefing on 6 July 2025 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Mkhwanazi alleged that Sibiya and Mchunu had ties to Matlala, a tenderpreneur and suspected crime boss. Witnesses before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry also implicated him in alleged criminal and corrupt activities.

Briefly News speaks to expert

Briefly News spoke to Dr Tinyiku Ngoveni, the University of South Africa's chairperson of the School of Criminal Justice. Ngoveni commented on the progress of the Ad Hoc Committee.

"The Ad Hoc Committee is very effective, although some of the Members of Parliament were losing sight in terms of differentiating politics and national issues. In general, they also exposed the rot in our police systems and crime prevention in general," he said.

Cat Matlala struggling to cope in prison

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Matlala's legal team said that he was struggling to cope in prison in solitary confinement. The legal team spoke as it applied to postpone his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee.

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Matlala's lawyers said that he was mentally and physically affected by solitary confinement. He was placed in solitary confinement after a cellphone was found in his cell during a raid.

Source: Briefly News