Alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has revealed that he and the late taxi boss Jotham Mswazi Msibi were planning to jointly buy a private jet, but the venture did not materialise.
Matlala revealed this while responding to questions about whether he knew Msibi and others suspected of being part of a cartel that has come to be known as the Big Five.
Matlala confirmed that he rendered security services to Msibi and that he only came to know the other individuals, including fellow accused criminal Katiso Molefe, as well as relatively unknown figures identified as Ignatius Mthakathi and Andrew “Boy” Mthethwa.
“I knew Jotham Msibi purely as a person to whom I rendered security services. I never had business with him. I know Ignatius Mthakathi, Andrew ‘Boy’ Mthethwa, and Katiso Molefe purely by virtue of the fact that I came across them and was introduced to them on occasions by Jotham Msibi, to whom I rendered security services. I never had any business dealings with them. I never sat around talking to them. I do not know anything about their personal lives or the businesses they are involved in,” said Matlala.
While he maintains that he never did business with Msibi, he admitted that they attempted to buy a private jet together, but the deal never materialised.
“Now, before you deal with the next person, at 89 you say you knew Mr Msibi purely as a person to whom you rendered security services. ‘I never had business with him.’ What do you mean by that last line, that you never had any business with him or businesses?” asked Evidence Leader Mahlape Sello.
“I would say I never had a… I attempted, yes, to do business with him, but it never materialised.
“So I never had any business, other than rendering security services with him. And then, while you are on that, what businesses did you attempt to have with him that did not materialise?”
“To purchase a private jet,” said Matlala.
The inquiry once again experienced difficulties in getting Matlala to answer questions as he attempted to invoke his Section 204 privilege against self-incrimination. This came after he failed to secure a postponement.