Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala — the Pretoria businessman at the centre of a multi-million rand police tender scandal and alleged links to senior government officials — was caught with a cellphone inside his cell at Kgoši Mampuru Correctional Centre, intensifying concerns over systemic corruption and the abuse of state institutions.
Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale confirmed the dramatic discovery during a routine security raid conducted over the weekend, which has since led to Matlala’s transfer to the maximum-security C-Max section of the facility.
“We discovered an illegal item — a cellphone — in Mr Matlala’s possession,” Thobakgale said. “The phone has since been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for investigation. We want to determine how it entered the prison and who was involved.”
Security Compromised in High-Risk Section
The cellphone was reportedly found in Matlala’s cell during a Sunday operation, with a follow-up search conducted on Tuesday night at the same facility. Authorities have not disclosed the contents of the device, but insiders say the forensic analysis could expose explosive links between Matlala and key state figures.
Thobakgale admitted that contraband smuggling into correctional facilities remains a “persistent challenge,” driven by a mix of inmate ingenuity, staff complicity, and insufficient screening technology.
“Some items come through inmates who attend court and manage to smuggle items internally. Others come through visitors or even compromised officials,” he revealed. “We only have 17 body scanners in the entire country — this is simply not enough.”
This revelation adds weight to longstanding claims that South African prisons are not only overcrowded but also dangerously porous — creating opportunities for high-profile detainees to maintain communication with external criminal or political networks.
Matlala’s Web of Scandal
Matlala, who is currently awaiting trial, faces charges of attempted murder, money laundering, and defeating the ends of justice. He was arrested in 2023 after his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, was nearly killed in a drive-by shooting.
Described by insiders as a politically connected “tenderpreneur,” Matlala’s business dealings came under national scrutiny after his company was awarded a R360 million SAPS health-services contract in 2024 — despite having no prior experience in the field.
The tender, marred by fronting and fraud allegations, was quietly cancelled in May after SAPS Commissioner Fannie Masemola raised red flags. Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu has since claimed that it was his intervention that triggered the review.
However, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi shocked the nation during a press conference on Sunday when he revealed that WhatsApp messages extracted from one of Matlala’s earlier seized phones show alleged attempts to bribe political officials, including efforts to dismantle the SAPS Political Killings Task Team.
Mkhwanazi claimed Matlala’s communications implicate individuals close to Mchunu, including a controversial figure known as Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi, whom Mchunu has since admitted knowing — but described merely as a “comrade” in ANC circles.
Ministry in Damage Control Mode
In a hastily issued statement on Wednesday, Mchunu again denied any association with Matlala and emphasised that he had never met the businessman.
“The Minister has never met Mr Matlala, has never spoken to him, nor has the Minister ever requested or received anything from him,” the statement read.
“The Minister did, however, initiate a review of the SAPS tender when suspicions arose. That tender has now been cancelled.”
Mchunu further distanced himself from Mogotsi, reiterating that he was “not an associate” and had played no role in SAPS affairs.
However, political analysts say the timing of the statements and the intensity of the revelations raise serious concerns about executive accountability and internal police sabotage.
“Even if Mchunu is innocent, the mere perception of impropriety — in a department as sensitive as policing — undermines public trust,” said one government insider, speaking on condition of anonymity.
President Ramaphosa Calls for Restraint
President Cyril Ramaphosa, currently in Brazil for the BRICS Summit, issued a cautious statement earlier this week, urging all involved to avoid “public mudslinging” while investigations are ongoing.
“The public trading of accusations and counter-accusations can sow confusion and undermine confidence in state institutions. I will address the matter fully upon my return,” Ramaphosa said.
His comments, however, have not slowed the calls for parliamentary intervention and even a potential suspension of Mchunu while investigations unfold.
Cellphone May Unlock Key Evidence
Correctional sources say the newly discovered cellphone may hold more than contraband value — it could be a digital treasure trove. If it contains communications with SAPS insiders, political operatives, or evidence of ongoing tender manipulation, it could finally expose what critics call a state-protected network of corruption.
Already, multiple agencies — including the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and Crime Intelligence — are said to be monitoring the case closely.
“The public deserves to know how a man facing such serious charges — and allegedly linked to procurement corruption — can still operate from behind bars,” said Judith February, legal analyst and governance expert. “It reflects the depth of the state capture residue still lingering in our institutions.”
What Comes Next?
- SAPS forensics will comb through Matlala’s latest seized device.
- Internal DCS investigation will probe possible staff complicity.
- IPID and oversight bodies are expected to weigh in with their own reports.
- Parliament may initiate hearings into both the tender and prison breaches.
- Political pressure is likely to increase on Mchunu ahead of Ramaphosa’s promised formal intervention.
Meanwhile, National Commissioner Masemola is scheduled to address the media today during a firearms destruction operation in Gauteng. Insiders expect questions about both the tender and the prison scandal to dominate.
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