Cat Matlala's Wife Scores R3.7 Million Ekurhuleni Deal After Company Transformation
Tsakane Matlala, wife of Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala, who is implicated in the Tembisa Hospital scandal, is under scrutiny after her company, Buena Vista Learning Academy, secured a R3.7 million contract with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
A News24 investigation reveals that Buena Vista Learning Academy, previously known as Mokoko Grill, underwent a rapid transformation just days before the bid submission deadline. The company's name was changed from Mokoko Grill on July 11, 2023. Tsakane Matlala was appointed as the sole director on July 13, 2023, replacing another individual. The company's address was changed from Bloemfontein to the Matlala's luxury Midstream Estate mansion on July 20, 2023. The deadline for bid submissions was July 24, 2023.
The contract, awarded to provide training and “skills development” programs, raises questions about the legitimacy of the bidding process. Critics question how a company that was essentially a restaurant could provide adequate financial statements and demonstrate relevant experience in learning and development within such a short timeframe.
Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini stated that Matlala’s company was “appointed to provide a range of learning and development programmes on an as-and-when-required basis” and that the contract is valid until June of this year. He insisted that 1,353 city employees benefited from the training, which ranged from operating heavy earthmoving equipment to road marking.
The article also highlights the lavish lifestyle of the Matlalas, seemingly funded by government procurement. Tsakane Matlala was seen in an Instagram reel flaunting expensive designer clothing and accessories, as well as a Rolls-Royce Wraith.
Both Cat and Tsakane Matlala face criminal charges. Cat Matlala is charged in connection with three separate botched assassinations. Tsakane Matlala faces charges of fraud, defeating the ends of justice, and money laundering, and has been released on R20,000 bail.
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