The Madlanga Commission is set for a potentially explosive week as criminally accused tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala takes the stand today to detail allegations of police corruption linked to a R360 million health services tender.
Matlala is due to testify under subpoena over a period of two days. His appearance follows a week of significant developments at the commission, which has been investigating criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system.
Commission lays criminal charges against businessman
Last week saw the commission take the extraordinary step of laying criminal charges against North West businessman Suliman Carrim. On 14 August, Commission Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruled that the commission would initiate charges itself after Carrim, who had been linked to the same R360 million SAPS health services contract, failed to appear for testimony and refused to submit to an independent medical examination.
Justice Madlanga declared that the commission would proceed to make its findings based on evidence Carrim had already provided on nine and 10 March.
Witness granted in-camera testimony
Also on Friday, the commission granted an application for a witness referred to as Witness P to testify in camera. The witness’s evidence relates to sensitive intelligence concerning a clandestine counter-intelligence operation targeting a drug gang. Public proceedings were temporarily closed to protect intelligence sources and confidential documents, including telephone-intercept transcripts.
MP criticised for late submission
Earlier in the week, Madlanga criticised National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams for the late submission of his witness statement, which was provided only on the eve of his scheduled appearance. Adams’s testimony was postponed to 19 August, with Madlanga accusing him of failing to treat the commission with the necessary seriousness.
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Matlala’s complicated legal position
Matlala’s appearance this week comes after his testimony was brought forward from a previously scheduled September date. His July appearance had been postponed whilst his legal team sought material linked to an aborted plea-and-sentence agreement with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption.
Matlala had previously agreed to plead guilty and testify against police officials he is accused of bribing to win the R360 million police health services tender. The deal provided for an eight-year sentence, but Matlala withdrew from the agreement after the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court proposed increasing the sentence to 12 years.
He now faces trial alongside the police officials and is accused of bribing them to secure the lucrative contract. The commission’s evidence leader has stated that evidence given at the commission cannot be used against Matlala in his criminal trial.
The commission’s public hearings resumed today after the in-camera testimony concluded last week.
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