PRETORIA – Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala has faced sustained questioning at the Madlanga Commission over his relationship with businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela, a R52-million Pagani Huayra Roadster and payment records involving the late taxi boss Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi.
The testimony has brought together three names that have surfaced in separate high-profile investigations: Matlala, Maumela and Msibi. The commission heard that Matlala introduced Maumela to Msibi, that Maumela wanted to sell a rare Italian hypercar, and that Matlala later sent proof-of-payment documents connected to more than R4 million to Msibi.
Matlala has told the commission that he did not know the purpose of the payments. He has also said he was not aware of any business relationship between Maumela and Msibi, despite messages and payment records put to him by evidence leader Mahlape Sello.
The Madlanga Commission is examining allegations of criminality, corruption and political interference. Its proceedings are not a criminal trial, and the evidence being heard is still subject to testing. No finding has been made by the commission on the payments or on the relationship between the men.
Matlala returned for a second day of questioning in Pretoria, where he repeatedly sought to rely on his right against self-incrimination when faced with questions about his finances, business interests and associations. At several points, the commission required him to respond to questions about material placed before him.
One central issue was Matlala’s relationship with Maumela, whose businesses have been placed under scrutiny in the Tembisa Hospital procurement investigation. Matlala described Maumela as both a close friend and a business associate.
He said Maumela often accompanied him when he visited Msibi, a figure whom Matlala knew through his Cat VIP security company. Matlala told the commission he was responsible for introducing Maumela to Msibi.
“Mr Maumela, actually, he was selling his car and then Mr Msibi wanted to know which car he was selling, and then that’s when they got to know each other, and then he ended up knowing him because of me. Most of the time I will be with him (Maumela) when I go to see him (Msibi)… but at some point he (Maumela) wanted to sell his car.”
When Sello asked which vehicle was involved, Matlala identified it as a Pagani Huayra Roadster. The bright blue hypercar was reported to have been bought by Maumela late in 2021, during the period in which the Tembisa Hospital tender investigation began to gather pace.
Maumela’s assets have since been the subject of major preservation and forfeiture proceedings. In July, the Johannesburg High Court granted a final forfeiture order involving assets valued at approximately R326 million that were linked to the Maumela matter. The order covered high-value assets and properties, but the Pagani was not among the assets permanently forfeited.
The commission heard that Msibi showed an interest in the Pagani in November 2023 and received several images of the vehicle from Matlala. However, he did not buy it. Maumela later withdrew from the purchase, received a refund and the vehicle was sold to another buyer.
The Pagani evidence formed part of a wider examination of the relationship between Matlala, Maumela and Msibi. Sello took Matlala through WhatsApp messages and bank proof-of-payment documents that appeared to show Maumela-linked payments totalling more than R4 million to a man identified as Agrippa AM Khoza.
The documents reflected Nedbank proofs of payment from two companies on 22 September 2023. The payment reference read “M Maumela”. The records were later forwarded to Msibi.
Matlala said he could not remember why he sent the documents. He told the commission that Maumela may have asked him to pass them on because he did not have Msibi’s contact details. Matlala said he did not know what the payments were for.
“I wanted to comment, but I said it will be an assumption because I will think maybe Mr Msibi and Mr Maumela had some other businesses which I was not aware of, and then Mr Maumela wanted me to show him (Msibi) that he paid that money. I don’t know.”
The exchange became more difficult for Matlala when Sello referred to a message sent to Msibi on the same day as the payments. In the message, Matlala wrote: “Nedbank is proof of payment that I wanted to show you.”
Seconds later, he sent another message in connection with bank details that had been supplied: “This one is the account that Morgan sent to deposit money to. It’s FNB.”
Sello pressed Matlala on his claimed inability to remember the context of those messages. The evidence leader asked: “So you are saying you could potentially have just woken up one morning and said it might be a good idea to share this proof of payment with one of them?”
Matlala responded: “Commissioner, I’m not sure.”
Sello continued: “You couldn’t know, you don’t remember?”
Matlala replied: “What was your question?”
Sello then said: “My question is: You could very well have woken up one cold morning and decided you are going to share this piece of information… It cannot be like that.”
Matlala answered: “Okay.”
The hearing also returned to evidence from North West businessman Suliman Carrim, whose financial dealings with Matlala and Maumela had previously been examined by the commission. Carrim’s businesses received more than R300 million in municipal contracts while he served as an ANC regional treasurer, according to evidence heard by the commission.
Chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson put it to Carrim that transfers involving Matlala and Maumela met the definition of money laundering. One transaction involved R500,000 paid from money Carrim received from Matlala’s Medicare24 Tshwane District company to a company account registered in Maumela’s sister’s name.
Carrim rejected any suggestion that he intended to commit fraud. He told the commission: “For me, these were business transactions. I went into business. I thought I was doing it with honourable people, and yes, maybe it was not the case, but at no point did I ever want to be part of any wrong that is or that has been happening.”
Carrim said he had complied with an instruction to make the R500,000 payment despite claiming that Matlala’s company owed him R20 million from what he described as a loan. He told the commission he feared the consequences of refusing requests from Matlala and Maumela. The commission also heard that Maumela’s accounts were subject to a South African Revenue Service preservation order at the time of the payment.
Matlala also acknowledged that his relationship with Msibi extended beyond security services. He confirmed that they had discussed a private aircraft which Msibi was considering buying. Matlala said he did not go to inspect the aircraft after learning that it was not in good condition.
The evidence has placed the Pagani, the proof-of-payment records and the relationship between the three men at the centre of the commission’s inquiry. Matlala has maintained that he cannot remember the purpose of the payments and did not know the full nature of any dealings between Maumela and Msibi.
The Madlanga Commission continues its hearings as it considers further evidence and testimony.
