Author: Kgaogelo Magolego
As the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry continues in Pretoria, shocking new testimony has shed light on the alleged criminal influence of businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala within the City of Ekurhuleni and its police department. Appearing before the commission on Thursday, suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) chief, Jabulani Mapiyeye, described a culture of lawlessness and political interference that he said crippled his leadership and enabled Matlala’s growing influence. According to Mapiyeye, senior officials in the municipality “usurped” his powers, interfered with recruitment processes, and sidelined him from key operational decisions. “They acted as if I was not there,” he told…
Des van Rooyen has broken his own record of being the politician to serve the shortest time in office.Van Rooyen has been removed from his position as Chief Whip of uMkhonto weSizwe Party barely 24 hours after taking over from Colleen Makhubele who was removed from the post on Wednesday morning.Upon his return from Burkina Faso where he spent several days, MKP leader Jacob Zuma reversed the decision to fire Makhubele and suspended his deputy John Hlophe for the move, effectively reversing van Rooyen’s appointment and in the process making him break his own record, set when he served as…
Crime Intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo detailed his bewilderment over a botched directive to dismantle the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) during his ongoing testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference, and corruption in South Africa’s criminal justice system. Khumalo, resuming his evidence on Wednesday, described receiving a perplexing letter from suspended Deputy National Commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya—purportedly on instructions from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu—demanding a report justifying the PKTT’s disbandment. The team, formed in 2018 to probe politically motivated murders primarily in KwaZulu-Natal, was abruptly ordered dissolved on December 31, 2024, just seven months into…
Des van Rooyen has once once again got a late night nod to take up a position of authority.Van Rooyen was announced overnight as uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s new parliamentary Chief Whip replacing Colleen Makhubele who held the position for just a few months marked by allegations of bullying, nepotism and recently claims that she could be spying for the Israeli intelligence service Mozart. “The MKP has full confidence that under his stewardship as Chief Whip the parliamentary caucus will be strengthened, disciplined and more strategically aligned with the party’s objective of the total liberation of our people,” said MKP in…
The situation remains tensed in the Johannesburg CBD where informal traders, mostly foreign nationals are resisting a clean up campaign initiated by mayor Dada Morero. The Socio Economic Rights Institute (SERI) dragged the City of Joburg to court claiming the clean up campaign is displacing the city’s poorest as well as destroying livelihoods and on Monday the high court in Johannesburg ordered the municipality to start verifying the credentials of the 500 or so hawkers then issue those who qualify with trading permits. The municipality said it will not waste time and vowed to meet the court’s November 19th deadline.…
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has issued a stern warning to informal traders who were removed from De Villiers Street, urging them not to return to their trading spots while legal proceedings over the city’s CBD clean-up campaign continue. The warning came after the Johannesburg High Court on Friday postponed deliberations in a case brought by the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) against the City of Johannesburg. SERI alleges that the city’s operation, led by Morero himself, has displaced vulnerable informal traders and destroyed livelihoods — an accusation the metro strongly denies. Morero told hundreds of residents gathered outside the court that…
A tense situation unfolded outside the Johannesburg High Court as the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) challenged the legality of City of Joburg Mayor Dada Morero’s clean-up campaign targeting the CBD. SERI alleges the campaign disrupts livelihoods and displaces the city’s poorest residents. Morero attended the proceedings in person on Friday. Outside the court, supporters of the mayor—including groups from the ANC, Operation Dudula, and Action SA—demonstrated in favor of the clean-up. Meanwhile, a large group of African migrants staged a competing protest, with police using tape to separate the opposing groups. Operation Dudula activist Sibongile Maseko said, “We are with…
For the first time, South Africans got a glimpse of alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, whose name has dominated headlines since his July 6 arrest following a high-profile media briefing by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. On Thursday, Matlala’s voice recordings were played at the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Criminal Infiltration, Corruption, and Political Interference in the Criminal Justice System—known as the Madlanga Commission. The recordings formed part of testimony by a police officer attached to the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), now central to ongoing investigations. In the clips, Matlala can be heard name-dropping…
Alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has accused suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of being corrupt and having accepted millions of rand from him in exchange for protection, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday. Matlala, currently detained at Kgoshi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria on attempted murder charges involving his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, allegedly made the explosive claims during an interrogation by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) following his arrest. A member of the PKTT, identified only as Witness C, testified in camera that Matlala began “dropping names” of powerful individuals who, he claimed, had…
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria has heard that alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala expressed deep frustration and a sense of betrayal towards senior police figures — including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya — following his arrest on attempted murder charges and the cancellation of a multimillion-rand contract with the South African Police Service (SAPS). Testifying in camera, a member of the Political Killings Task Team, identified only as Witness C, told the inquiry that Matlala voluntarily shared detailed information about his alleged dealings with influential individuals, including Mchunu, Sibiya, and…