Parliamentary probe: Mkhwanazi testifies about relationship with accused tenderpreneur Cat Matlala

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi on Thursday told parliamentarians how he came to know attempted murderer accused tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Testifying before the Ad Hoc Committee, Mkhwanazi explained that his relationship with Matlala began in 2021. He said he first became aware of Matlala after EMPD intervention unit members informed him they had been training at a private shooting range alongside officers employed by Matlala's security company.

This happened when the metro was preparing for the State of City Address amid threats of disruption by the opposition party ANC.

Mkhwanazi said his colleagues had informed him about the former SAPS and military task force members who were working for Cat VIP Private Security owned by Matlala and director of private clinic, Medicare24.

“I did not know him at that time,” he said.

However, Mkhwanazi recalled seeing photos of directors at the offices of Medicare24.

He told the Ad Hoc Committee that the owner of Medicare24 Mike van Wyk had confirmed to him that Matlala owned the security company that was dealing with VIP protection.

Mkhwanazi said he had asked Van Wyk to set up a meeting with Matlala to assist with security of the State of the City Address.

He also said Matlala had asked at the scheduled meeting whether he would be paid but he agreed to assist when he was told there would be no payment.

Their second meeting was at offices of Matlala’s security company in Tshwane, which he described as being well-organised.

Mkhwanazi said they had exchanged cellphone numbers and he invited Matlala to a planning meeting for State of the City Address and was introduced to the mayor’s team.

He said Matlala personally came to the meeting but did not come to the following meeting when he sent someone else.

“He committed to assist in terms of security. Deployment was our responsibility.”

Mkhwanazi confirmed that after the State of the City Address he and Matlala developed closeness and a brotherly relationship.

“We started to discuss about other issues, personal things and all other things. After the City Address it was no longer about the issue of work,” he said.

He indicated that at the time he had challenges of funerals.

“I lost my siblings. That was around mid-2022.”

Mkhwanazi told the Ad Hoc Committee Matlala had sought clarity on the mandate of the municipality clinics and province, and asked about the privatisation of the metro’s VIP protection.

Asked by evidence leader Advocate Bongiwe Mkhize about how he managed the potential conflict of interest when he was discussing business and the mandate on clinics, Mkhwanazi said: “There was no potential conflict of interest.”

He said EMPD was a public institution and information Matlala wanted could be obtained by any member of the public.

“It is public knowledge that the mandate of clinics belongs to province.”

Earlier in his testimony, Mkhwanazi, who joined the EMPD as a recruit in 2002, said he came to know Van Wyk late in 2020.

“I was approached by community liaison members that there is Mr Van Wyk and he is having a plan of working with EMPD.”

He said he was told that Van Wyk’s Medicare24 wanted to work with the EMPD to assist with drawing of blood from suspects in cases of drunk driving.

“I said this is a good plan. It is to assist us. You can arrange a meeting with him. I went there and we met. He presented his plan. I said this a good plan,” he said.

Mkhwanazi said he had suggested that Van Wyk should make a presentation to the senior management team of the metro.

“He was provided an opportunity to present the plan. I was not part of the meeting because of the rank levels,” said the EMPD deputy chief, who was the director of specialised services at the time.

He said Van Wyk also arranged to test EMPD members for Covid-19 in 2021 and giving them treatment while the Memorandum of Understanding with Medicare24 was yet to be finalised.

“All his services were at no cost to the council.”

He also said in 2022, Van Wyk assisted about 500 EMPD trainees with making photocopies at no additional cost while the city was facing serious financial challenges.

“It cost Mike R300,000. That is what he told us.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za