Vusimuzi Matlala Drops Bombshell on Hangwani Maumela Friendship at Madlanga Commission

• Alleged criminal tycoon Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala told the Madlanga Commission about his decade-long ties with Hangwani Morgan Maumela
• Matlala confirmed Maumela served as a director of his company, CAT VIP Protection, but declined to elaborate on the relationship
• The commission heard evidence of a complex money trail allegedly linking Matlala, Maumela and North West businessman Suleiman Carrim

SOUTH AFRICA — Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has acknowledged a friendship and former business partnership with businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela while testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, 17 August 2026.

Matlala, described as an alleged criminal tycoon, told the commission that he and Maumela have known each other since approximately 2016 or 2017. "Hangwani Morgan Maumela is my friend and a person with whom I have previously conducted business," he stated.

Maumela's role in Matlala's company

Matlala disclosed that Maumela previously served as a director of CAT VIP Protection, a company linked to Matlala. He declined to expand on the nature of their dealings, citing an ongoing Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation into matters involving Maumela.

Read also

Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala explains why he hates Brown Mogotsi during Madlanga Commission testimony

Maumela has featured centrally in proceedings before the commission, facing allegations connected to corruption, irregular public procurement and suspected money laundering. He has also been linked to questions surrounding questionable tenders at Tembisa Hospital, where billions of rands in irregular procurement have come under scrutiny. Those allegations are partly connected to disclosures made by the late whistleblower Babita Deokaran, whose revelations drew significant attention to procurement practices at the hospital.

See post here:

Alleged money trail through third party

The commission also examined evidence of alleged financial flows connecting Matlala, Maumela and North West businessman Suleiman Carrim. Testimony before the commission suggested that rather than paying Maumela directly, Matlala allegedly instructed Carrim to transfer funds on his behalf.

One transaction placed before the commission involved an alleged R500,000 payment that Carrim is said to have advanced to Maumela, after which the funds were reportedly deposited into the account of Luthaga Trading Enterprise.

Read also

'Cat' Matlala denies EMPD contracts on first day at Madlanga Commission

The acknowledgement of a friendship and prior business relationship between Matlala and Maumela has placed their association under fresh scrutiny as the commission continues to probe alleged procurement irregularities, financial networks and wider patterns of influence.

Matlala's testimony has been postponed and is expected to resume on 24 and 25 August 2026. The Madlanga Commission is investigating allegations of corruption and criminality connected to South Africa's policing and political environment.

Matlala says he hates Brown Mogotsi

Briefly News reported that Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry about his relationship with Brown Mogotsi. The controversial tenderpreneur noted that the political fixer approached him, claiming to represent Senzo Mchunu's office. When asked whether he still maintained any contact with Mogotsi, Matlala was direct and said he hates Mogotsi because he has created a lot of problems for him.

Source: Briefly News