Appearing as an implicated witness in Pretoria, Matjeng revealed that her relationship with Matlala was an “open secret” within her social circles. She maintained that despite Matlala’s recent arrest and the heavy allegations against him, her experience with him was strictly affectionate.
“I know him as a humble, respectful, and romantic person,” she testified. “I had never experienced the evil side that is being portrayed currently.”
The Origin Story
The pair’s relationship reportedly began in 2017 after a colleague shared Matjeng’s photo on WhatsApp, prompting Matlala to request her contact details. Over the next eight years, the relationship was cyclical, with Matjeng admitting they would sometimes go an entire year without speaking before reuniting.
Money, Gifts, and the Butchery Account
The commission’s focus centered on the financial benefits Matjeng received from Matlala. The Brigadier was firm in her stance:
- Romantic Support: She characterized all payments and gifts since 2017 as “gifts from a boyfriend” rather than bribes or business transactions.
- The “Secret” Account: Matjeng admitted to using a friend’s business account (Osizweni Butchery) to receive money from Matlala. She claimed this was done at Matlala’s request to hide the payments from his wife, who allegedly only knew Matjeng as a friend.
- No Professional Overlap: She denied that any of the funds were linked to the Medicare24 Tshwane contract, a R360-million health tender awarded to Matlala’s company that has since been canceled due to irregularities.
Procurement and Conflict of Interest
Addressing the core of the inquiry—whether senior police officials facilitated Matlala’s lucrative state contracts—Matjeng argued that she followed proper protocol:
- Disclosure: Upon realizing a potential overlap between her duties and Matlala’s business, she claims she informed her supervisor, Major-General Manamela, and offered to recuse herself.
- Refused Recusal: According to her testimony, her supervisor advised that the work fell within her specific professional mandate and could not be delegated, instructing her to handle any challenges “professionally.”
- Lack of Influence: Matjeng insisted she was not part of the bid adjudication committee and was unaware of which companies had submitted bids for the tender.
Context: Who is “Cat” Matlala?
While Brigadier Matjeng describes a “humble” businessman, the Madlanga Commission and South African law enforcement paint a much darker picture of Vusimuzi Matlala:
- “Big Five” Cartel: Investigators have linked Matlala to a sophisticated syndicate allegedly involved in tender fraud, kidnappings, and political killings.
- Attempted Murder Charges: He was arrested in May 2025 for allegedly orchestrating a hit on his former partner, socialite Tebogo Thobejane.
- “Police Capture”: Matlala is a central figure in the probe into “police capture,” with allegations that he had multiple top-ranking officials—including a former minister and high-ranking generals—on his payroll.
