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 the commission. “They interfered in recruitment, pushing for people who hadn’t even applied for positions. HR had no business hiring metro officers, but still wrote memos recommending contract renewals that I had already rejected.”
Mapiyeye alleged that when Julius Mkhwanazi was appointed as one of his deputies in 2023, his authority was openly undermined. Within five months, Mkhwanazi allegedly made 55 senior appointments without proper procedure, often bypassing the chief entirely.
“He was taking decisions as if he was the police chief, even assigning me duties,” Mapiyeye said. “When I complained to the City Manager, she told me Mkhwanazi had been given key responsibilities, including filling those positions.”
Mapiyeye was later suspended — a move he believes was part of a broader plan that allowed Matlala to deepen his ties within the city.
Matlala’s Alleged ‘Blue Light’ Privileges
According to Mapiyeye, after he went on leave in 2024, Mkhwanazi allegedly worked closely with Matlala, granting the businessman unlawful privileges — including fitting his vehicles with official police blue lights.
He claimed the pair signed a purported Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Matlala’s company and the EMPD, allowing him to “assist” law enforcement.
The alleged MOU, which Mapiyeye said does not exist in official records, outlined that Matlala would donate vehicles, provide specialised training to EMPD officers, assist in criminal tracing operations, and even set up roadblocks to test suspected drunk drivers.
“The so-called MOU is non-existent,” Mapiyeye insisted. “We don’t even have an anti–truck hijacking unit in Ekurhuleni, yet this document claimed Matlala would help with one. Most of the activities mentioned are SAPS responsibilities, not municipal ones.”
He further testified that Matlala’s company was paid over R300,000 for stationery supposedly needed for EMPD training sessions — but said those training sessions never took place.