Johannesburg, South Africa – The tenure of former South African Police Minister Bheki Cele has come under renewed examination following revelations of his association with Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a businessman now embroiled in multiple serious controversies. The relationship gained public prominence after it emerged that Mr. Cele had stayed at a luxury penthouse owned by Mr. Matlala in January 2025, an event that preceded the awarding of a substantial state contract and triggered a cascade of investigations.
The stay occurred at The Capital Menlyn Maine hotel in Pretoria, in an exclusive residence owned by Matlala. Official records do not indicate that state funds were used for the accommodation, nor was the stay officially logged. However, public concern was sharply escalated by the timing of subsequent events. Just one week after Mr. Cele’s resignation from his cabinet position, a company linked to Mr. Matlala, Medicare 24 Tshwane District, was awarded a contract worth R360 million by the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the provision of health services. This contract had been under departmental evaluation while Cele was still the executive authority of the SAPS.
The apparent conflict of interest and allegations of undue influence led to significant public and political pressure. Consequently, in May 2025, the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, took the decisive step of canceling the R360 million contract. The official reason provided for the cancellation was the discovery of significant irregularities and corruption within the tender process. This episode has since highlighted persistent concerns regarding the integrity of state procurement and the nature of relationships between public officials and private business interests.
Wider Allegations and Criminal Proceedings Involving Matlala
The controversy surrounding the SAPS tender is not an isolated incident. Matlala is currently facing serious legal challenges in the courts. In May 2025, he was arrested and charged with several crimes, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. These charges relate to a 2023 assassination attempt on actress Tebogo Thobejane, with whom Matlala had a past relationship. The case has brought public attention to a pattern of allegations concerning violence in his personal affairs.
Two men, Tlego Floyd Mabusela and Musa Kekana, are now facing serious charges for trying to kill former Muvhango actress Tebogo Thobejane. This happened in Sandton back in October 2023. Reports say gunmen drove up next to the car Tebogo was in, with her friend and driver, and started shooting. Tebogo survived the scary attack, but her friend was injured.
The two men appeared in Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to face three counts of attempted murder and one count of planning to murder. These same men are also connected to another terrible crime—the murder of Armand Swart, an engineer from Vereeniging. Swart was shot dead outside his workplace last year, and police think it might have been a mistake because the killers were given the wrong person’s photo. Mabusela and Kekana are already in jail, waiting for their trial for Swart’s murder, along with two other men, Katiso Molefe and Michael Pule Tau. They were be back in court for Tebogo’s case on March 31.
Claims of Interference within State Security Apparatus
The gravity of the allegations against Mr. Matlala extends to the functionality and integrity of the police service itself. Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Police Commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal, has made public and serious accusations against Matlala. Mkhwanazi alleges that Matlala, working with senior SAPS officials, actively interfered with police operations by seeking to dismantle a provincial task team investigating political killings. The Commissioner asserted that he possesses cellphone data and other communications as evidence to substantiate these claims, which also implicate other political figures, including then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Business Networks and Prior Investigations
Matlala’s extensive business interests, which reportedly include a number of shell companies, have also been flagged in previous corruption probes. His name was notably mentioned in connection with suspicious payments from Tembisa Hospital during the investigation spearheaded by slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran. These connections suggest a broader pattern of leveraging political networks to benefit from state contracts.
Public Speculation on Unsolved Cases
The nature of the criminal charges against Mr. Matlala has led to public speculation about his possible involvement in other high-profile violent crimes, such as the unsolved murder of musician Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka in November 2022. It is critical to note, however, that law enforcement authorities have not released any official information or evidence linking Mr. Matlala to this case. The official investigation continues to focus on other leads.
The cumulative effect of these events places the prior association between Mr. Cele and Mr. Matlala in a critical light, serving as a starting point for inquiries that have since unearthed a deeply concerning nexus of political influence, alleged corruption, and serious crime. The ongoing legal and investigative processes are now a significant test of the South African justice system’s capacity to enforce accountability.
