Cat Matlala's alleged gifts for cops: Cash, impalas, a butt lift and ozempic

Suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Intelligence Shadrack Sibiya's testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry revealed some startling allegations this week including that alleged tenderpreneur and cartel boss Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala had allegedly paid for a top cop's Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL).

Sibiya himself is at the centre of controversy regarding Matlala's alleged dealings with the police as witnesses in previous testimony before the commission claimed that Sibiya had taken bags of cash and gifts from Matlala on diverse occasions. 

Among the gifts it has been alleged that Sibiya received was 20 impalas (antelope). However, Sibiya, who this week denied all the allegations against him, provided his own revelations, according to a IOL report, including that acting Deputy Commissioner for crime intelligence Hilda Senthumule received gifts from Matlala.

Matlala's company Medicare Tshwane District had a R360 million contract with the SAPS to assist police officers with medical treatment. It was later cancelled.

Sibiya claimed Senthumule benefited from Matlala in circumstances that were not disclosed, including allegations that Matlala covered costs of her Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure.

"These allegations included certain medical procedures performed by medical practitioners the cost of which were paid for by Matlala," he said.

He said Senthumule also accepted a donation of 10 refrigerators from Medicare which were awarded to outstanding officers at the SAPS National Excellence Award.

Questioned further about the cosmetic surgery allegation, Sibiya indicated that a SAPS manager testified at the commission about colleagues receiving BBL procedures.

Sibiya was referring to the testimony of SAPS senior official Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, who had told the commission that Matlala was her boyfriend, at some stage said she had asked him to buy her the weight loss drug Ozempic. She also took money from him.

Matjeng had mentioned the BBL procedure and had denied that she had it done but said she knew of others in the workplace who did have the plastic surgery.

In a bid to strengthen his claim on the BBL, Sibiya said Senthumule had to take off work to recover after the alleged procedure.

Sibiya said: "In my case...because I work with her every day I had to give her (days) off because she could not sit even in the car or in the office because she couldn't work. She had to at all times be standing."

He told the commission that he even advised Senthumule to work from home.

For more stories from The Mercury, click the link THE MERCURY