"Cat" Matlala Faces Eviction Amidst Corruption Allegations
Pretoria – Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a prominent figure implicated in allegations of corrupting politicians and high-ranking police officers, is facing eviction from his upmarket Pretoria offices due to unpaid rent. Matlala's company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, was previously awarded a lucrative R360 million police tender, now under scrutiny.
Menlyn Maine Towers, the property company, has taken Matlala to court, alleging that Medicare24 owes a substantial amount in unpaid rental charges. According to court documents filed in the Pretoria High Court, Matlala's company has accumulated a debt of R258,890. The property company claims that Matlala began experiencing "payment flow troubles" in June 2024, leading to the accumulation of arrears.
Wilna Claassen, a property agent representing Menlyn Maine Towers, stated in court papers: “The respondent [Medicare24] is indebted to the applicant for arrear rentals and ancillary charges in the sum of R258,890, comprising several months’ rental and related expenses.”
Medicare24 had a five-year lease agreement with Menlyn Maine Towers, spanning from September 2021 to August 2026. However, the property company alleges that Matlala violated the lease agreement by housing his other company, Cat VIP Protection, within the Medicare24 offices without obtaining the necessary consent.
As a result of the alleged breaches and the mounting debt, Menlyn Maine Towers decided to cancel the lease agreement in July 2025. This decision came two months after Matlala's arrest on charges of attempted murder.
Menlyn Maine Towers argues that it is within its rights to seek Matlala's eviction. “In an attempt to mitigate its losses, the applicant [Menlyn Maine Towers] cancelled the lease agreement by sending a cancellation letter/notice to vacate to the respondent [Medicare24] in July 2025. The applicant is well within its rights to seek eviction of the respondent and all persons claiming occupation of the leased premises," court documents state.
The property company is seeking a court order compelling Medicare24 to vacate the premises "immediately" and to settle the outstanding debt. Additionally, Menlyn Maine Towers is seeking legal claim to Medicare24's moveable property as a means of recovering the owed funds.
Maree Attorneys Inc, representing Menlyn Maine Towers, indicated that as of November 21, Medicare24 had not vacated the premises. "The respondent has to date not vacated the leased premises and remains in arrears with the monthly and related charges," the attorneys stated.
According to the court papers, Matlala received his first letter of demand in June 2024, at which point he already owed R76,829. This was the same year in which Medicare24 was awarded the controversial SAPS contract. However, the contract was subsequently cancelled in May of this year.
By June 2025, the debt had escalated to R161,347, highlighting the rapid accumulation of arrears.
Menlyn Maine Towers has rejected mediation, a common practice in Gauteng high courts, and has instead pursued an eviction application. The application is scheduled to be heard in December and is currently unopposed.
Matlala has gained notoriety for his alleged role in paying kickbacks to high-ranking police officers in order to secure the R360 million SAPS tender. He has also been described as a "money tree" due to his alleged lavish spending and financial influence.
In a separate matter, Matlala testified before parliament's ad hoc committee, making serious allegations against former minister Bheki Cele. Matlala accused Cele of being an "extortionist" who demanded R1 million after assisting him in recovering his belongings following a raid on his security company offices in Menlyn. The raid was conducted by the KwaZulu-Natal political killings team and Gauteng investigators.
During the raid in December 2024, police seized guns registered under Matlala's security company name. The firearms were later returned to him.
Matlala also admitted to making a payment of approximately R150,000 towards the ANC January 8 celebrations in Cape Town. The payment was allegedly made to Brown Mogotsi, who claimed to be a close associate of minister Senzo Mchunu.
Furthermore, police have alleged that Matlala paid businessman and ANC member Suleiman Carrim, also known by Mchunu, R1.5 million for his assistance in securing the SAPS tender.
In his testimony, Matlala suggested that he was caught in the middle of a conflict between deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya and KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He portrayed himself as a victim of this internal power struggle within the police force.
The eviction case and the ongoing investigations into corruption allegations continue to cast a shadow over Matlala and his business dealings. The outcome of the court proceedings and the findings of the investigations will likely have significant implications for all parties involved.
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