Madlanga Commission | Witness F admits receiving funds from Matlala, names Musa Khawula

Witness F has told the Madlanga Commission that he never received money from alleged underworld kingpin, Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, for improper purposes, insisting that all payments were linked to specific services rendered.

Testifying before the commission on Wednesday, Witness F did not deny receiving money from Matlala on more than one occasion, but maintained that the funds were either for assisting with repairs to Matlala’s boats and jet skis, or for arranging logistics at private events.

Witness F told the commission that on one occasion, Matlala paid him to organise a motorcycle convoy for a wedding in Mamelodi. Witness F told the commission that he arranged six biker friends, each of whom was paid R2,500 for escorting the convoy.

The commission also revealed a statement reflecting a R20,000 deposit into Witness F’s ABSA account. He claimed the money was intended to pay the bikers.

When questioned about why he received an additional R5,000 beyond the R15,000 required, Witness F said the amount was a bonus given for what he described as “excellent service”.

However, the commission’s evidence leader, Matthew Chaskalson, challenged this explanation, suggesting that the R20,000 payment was in fact a reward to Witness F for assisting Matlala with arranging blue lights services and sirens for his personal convoy — an allegation the witness denied.

The commission also heard that Witness F first met Matlala in December 2023, when the alleged crime figure requested a meeting with suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya, over challenges linked to a SAPS tender contract.

Witness F testified that Sibiya later told Matlala to contact him if he struggled to reach the general directly.

“He did not say his phone is constantly off. He said most of the time either he is in parliament, or in a meeting with the national commissioner, or that his phone is sometimes off. Those are the three things he mentioned to me,” Witness F said.

Witness F also testified that months later, Matlala appeared to move from being a complainant to a close associate, gaining access to private thanksgiving ceremonies at Sibiya’s home. Witness F said he often acted as an intermediary between the two, but denied knowledge of the content of their discussions.

The commission also heard that the national head of organised crime at the Hawks, Richard Shibiri, sent Witness F a screenshot of an X post by controversial blogger Musa Khawula implicating Matlala in serious crimes, including links to whistleblower Babita Deokaran’s murder.

Witness F confirmed receiving the screenshot days after a private ceremony attended by both Sibiya and Matlala.

He said Shibiri later warned Khawula against publishing such allegations. Despite this, the commission was presented with documents showing an application for Khawula’s arrest in October 2024 for alleged contraventions of the Cybercrimes Act and crimen injuria.

According to the post attributed to Khawula, Matlala is alleged to be one of the Boko Haram gang bosses, to have defrauded Tembisa Hospital of R1 million, and to be linked to the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran.

The post further claimed that Matlala previously operated his drug business through the late DJ Sumbody.

Witness F told the commission that Shibiri later informed him he had warned Khawula against publishing such allegations about Matlala.

The commission was also presented with a document appearing to be an application for Khawula’s arrest in October 2024 for allegedly contravening Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act and for crimen injuria.

Witness F testified that he was instructed to arrest Khawula as a matter of urgency — despite being off duty at the time.

He further claimed that under instruction from Sibiya, he forwarded the arrest warrant to Khawula — believing at the time that it was appropriate.

The Gauteng Tracking Team was deployed to assist with the arrest, which Witness F said ultimately related to alleged insults against ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and businessman Ze Nxumalo, rather than posts about Matlala.

He told the commission that Hawks Captain Faleni Zungu was identified as the most suitable officer to assist with the arrest, while the GTT was summoned by Brigadier Ramangoa.

“Because I communicated to Brigadier Ramangoa that I don’t have man-power or crew at the time, I assumed that he phoned the tracking team because the team was user friendly to him. He was in most cases using the tracking team. So I assumed that he sent the tracking team there because he thought I was going alone. However when I found captain Zungu I did not go back to Brigadier Ramangoa to inform him that I found the crew,” Witness F explained.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao