South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s name arose during the ongoing proceedings of the Madlanga Commission, with Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala shedding light on alleged confidential exchanges with senior police officials. Matlala was questioned regarding a document containing personal data purportedly associated with Ramaphosa. Previous testimonies indicated that Matlala forwarded this document to Major-General Lesetja Senona, the former head of KwaZulu-Natal’s Hawks, after obtaining it from private investigator Calvin Rafadi.
While addressing the commission, Matlala maintained that he merely passed on the information without knowledge of its content or source. His testimony did not indicate any misconduct by Ramaphosa. The commission also delved into Matlala’s association with Senona, whom he likened to an “older brother.” He revealed that Senona had extended a loan of R20,000 to him following a police raid on his Pretoria residence in December 2024.
Furthermore, Matlala made claims involving Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, the Deputy National Police Commissioner currently under suspension. He accused Sergeant Fannie Nkosi of being an intermediary in the collection of funds from unnamed individuals in Gauteng. However, Matlala refrained from disclosing their identities, invoking his right against self-incrimination due to separate criminal charges he faces.
The Madlanga Commission’s scope involves probing allegations of corruption, criminal activities, and political meddling within South Africa’s criminal justice framework. This inquiry into Matlala’s connections and the alleged document exchange underscores the broader issues of integrity and accountability within the system, as the commission seeks to uncover the depths of corruption and ensure justice prevails.