Cat Matlala subpoenaed to testify before Madlanga commission
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed on Thursday that Matlala is expected to testify on July 7.
Tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has been subpoenaed to appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry next Tuesday, days after his plea agreement with the State was rejected by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed on Thursday that Matlala, who is being held at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria, is expected to testify on July 7.
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Describing Matlala as a “central figure” in the inquiry, Michaels said arrangements surrounding his appearance were highly sensitive.
“Arrangements around and preparation for his appearance are obviously extremely sensitive, but at this time, I am simply going to confirm that he has been subpoenaed. It is a complex matter,” he said.
Michaels declined to comment on the expected scope or duration of Matlala’s evidence.
We do not want to say much more than that at this point. It is a complex matter and I really do not want to get into what will eventually no doubt be ventilated before the commission.
Matlala’s appearance comes after the court on Wednesday rejected his plea agreement with the State in a corruption case linked to a R228 million South African Police Service health services contract awarded to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.
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He had pleaded guilty to charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering and had agreed to testify as a State witness in collaboration with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption.
However, the court ruled that the proposed sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, with seven years suspended, was too lenient because it would have resulted in an effective eight-year prison term.
Magistrate Ignatius du Preez instead proposed 12 years’ direct imprisonment.
The State and Matlala’s legal team are consulting with the National Prosecuting Authority on whether to accept the revised sentence or abandon the plea agreement.
The matter returns to court on July 13.
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That trial is expected to begin in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on July 20.
The announcement regarding Matlala’s appearance came after proceedings at the Madlanga Commission were disrupted on Thursday when businessman Tumelo Nku’s testimony was postponed indefinitely over security concerns.
The hearing, held at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, had been scheduled to resume with Nku continuing his evidence relating to the controversial Aeroton drug bust.
However, commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga announced that the testimony would not proceed.
Nku is regarded as a central figure in the July 2021 Aeroton drug bust in which 715.86kg of cocaine worth an estimated R300 million was seized at a Johannesburg depot.
