Matjeng gives candid account of her relationship with Cat Matlala
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry resumed on Friday with Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, head of Quality Management in SAPS’s Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, continuing her testimony about her on-and-off relationship with alleged criminal figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Matjeng’s account has drawn public attention for its mix of personal revelation and professional scrutiny, as the commission investigates alleged corruption, political interference, and criminality within South Africa’s police services.
Gifts, not graft: Matjeng’s side of the story
During Thursday’s session, Matjeng faced questions about allegations that she received R300,000 from Matlala in exchange for influencing a R360 million SAPS contract awarded to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.
Matjeng firmly denied any wrongdoing. “I have never borrowed money from Matlala, and the money I received in 2017 was a gift from a boyfriend. None of the gifts or monies from him were related to me having the awarding of the tender or execution thereof, as I started receiving them from 2017 while being in our on-and-off relationship,” she told the commission.
Some of the funds, she explained, were deposited into her friend Modiegi Kekana’s account — owner of Osizweni Meat Market — while others went into her own FNB account.
The testimony sheds light on the blurred lines that can exist between personal and professional worlds, particularly when relationships intersect with high-stakes government contracts.
The wider Matlala web
Following Matjeng, businessman Suliman Carrim is expected to testify. Carrim, identified as an ANC activist, was implicated by a Witness X as the intermediary between Matlala and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. WhatsApp messages presented to the commission suggested Carrim may have assisted with invoices and payments connected to Matlala’s SAPS contract.
The R360 million contract had been abruptly terminated, reportedly after irregularities were detected. Carrim reportedly tried to arrange a meeting between Matlala and Mchunu to resolve the issue and has since sought legal intervention to delay his summons.
National spotlight on SAPS management
President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously highlighted Matjeng as one of five senior police officials flagged for potential wrongdoing, suggesting she may be investigated further by a special task team under Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
Matjeng’s testimony, while personal in nature, is thus entwined with a larger inquiry into alleged corruption and operational failures at the SAPS.
Time extension for testimony
The commission had to postpone the conclusion of Matjeng’s testimony on Thursday afternoon, with retired Constitutional Court Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga allowing her more time to answer questions fully. The hearing will continue Friday morning, providing Matjeng the opportunity to complete her account before the commission turns to Carrim.
Bringing personal relationships into a formal inquiry has made the proceedings both human and headline-grabbing, highlighting how intertwined South Africa’s political, criminal, and law enforcement spheres can become.
Public and social media reactions have ranged from sympathy for Matjeng’s candidness to intense scrutiny of her ties with Matlala, reflecting a national fascination with how personal dynamics can intersect with allegations of state corruption.
This testimony marks another chapter in the ongoing saga surrounding Matlala, Medicare24, and accountability within SAPS, keeping South Africans watching closely as the commission continues to untangle the complex web of influence, money, and alleged crime.
Source: IOL
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