Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala appears before Parly committee probing police corruption

Suspected criminal mastermind Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has taken the hot seat at Parliament’s ad hoc committee.

The committee probing allegations of police corruption is sitting at Kgosi Mampuru Prison, where Matlala is awaiting trial.

His appearance follows threats from his legal team to interdict his much-anticipated hearing.

Matlala is expected to answer allegations that he influenced police operational decisions.

Some MPs have raised concerns over Matlala’s failure to provide a sworn statement, submitting a draft electronic version instead.

Despite this, the committee has decided to proceed with his testimony.

Chairperson Soviet Lekganyane guided Matlala through what his appearance will cover.

"The alleged unlawful disbandment of the political killings task team, otherwise known as the PKTT or NPKTT; the alleged moratorium on the filling of vacancies within the South African Police Service (SAPS); alleged corrupt relationships between senior leadership within SAPS and members of the public; as well as political interference in the work of the SAPS."

Matlala’s long awaited testimony before the Parliament ad hoc committee started with him detailing his background in business.

Matlala told the committee, which is sitting at the Kgosi Mampuru correctional centre where he’s incarcerated, that he started his business ventures informally, selling goods before moving to security.

Matlala is expected to give evidence until Friday, around allegations that he influenced police operations and was awarded a R360 million tender by the police irregularly.

Matlala also confirmed his previous conviction.

"After matric, that’s when I started to do informal business, buying and selling goods to a point where in 2001 I ended up being convicted for buying stuff which was illegal and I’ve been sentenced to four years in prison. Right up until 2017, that’s when I formally registered my business. My first business, it was a security business."