The Activists and Citizens Forum has called for an immediate investigation into potential corruption at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria, demanding the suspension of a senior official accused of granting preferential treatment to high-profile awaiting-trial prisoner Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The demands follow testimony from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption, and political interference in the justice system. General Mkhwanazi revealed that Matlala, while detained in the facility’s C-Max section, enjoyed unusual privileges—including access to a cellphone—and maintained a suspiciously close relationship with the head of the unit and other officials.
“We are not surprised by what General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi told the parliamentary ad hoc committee: that a senior head of C-Max in Pretoria is giving Cat Matlala preferential treatment over all other awaiting-trial inmates,” said Dennis Bloem, spokesperson for the Activists and Citizens Forum. “This is completely wrong and unacceptable, which is why we are calling on the minister to immediately suspend this head of Kgosi Mampuru.”
Matlala, an alleged cartel member and businessman facing multiple charges including attempted murder, was transferred from Kgosi Mampuru to the high-security eBongweni Correctional Centre (a super-maximum facility) in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal, on December 21, 2025. The Department of Correctional Services described the move as a standard operational decision for security reasons, though critics have questioned its timing amid the ongoing parliamentary inquiry.
The controversy stems from broader probes into alleged criminal syndicates influencing policing and corrections. Matlala himself testified before the committee at Kgosi Mampuru in late November 2025, where he addressed claims related to corruption networks, including links to senior police figures and procurement irregularities.
The Activists and Citizens Forum has long raised concerns about corruption in the criminal justice system, previously urging dismissals of implicated officers in related inquiries. Bloem emphasized that such favoritism undermines fairness for ordinary inmates and erodes public trust in correctional services.
The Department of Correctional Services and the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services have not yet responded publicly to the latest calls for suspension and investigation. The parliamentary ad hoc committee continues to examine these and related allegations, with potential implications for accountability across law enforcement and prisons.