A major corruption case in South Africa has hit a snag after Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala withdrew from a plea agreement that would have made him a state witness.
Matlala, a business tycoon central to an ongoing police corruption inquiry, pulled out after a Johannesburg court said an eight-year prison term was too lenient. The magistrate recommended 12 years instead.
Last month Matlala pleaded guilty to corruption, fraud and money-laundering over accusations that he bribed senior police officials to secure a 360m rand, about $22m, tender for his health company Medicare24 in 2024.
Under the original deal with the National Prosecuting Authority, he would have received an eight-year sentence, down from the prescribed 15 years, in exchange for testifying against 12 other suspects. Those set to face trial include National Police Commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola, who denies any wrongdoing.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said on Monday that while the withdrawal was disappointing, the state still has a “strong and winnable case.” However, prosecutors can no longer use evidence from Matlala’s affidavit, which reportedly implicated high-ranking police officers.
The deal had already drawn criticism. The Democratic Alliance, a junior partner in the governing coalition, called it a “betrayal of accountability.”
The case returns to the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on 11 September, when Matlala is expected to be listed again as suspect number one.
Matlala is also facing a separate murder charge, which he denies. He was named at the Madlanga Commission, a judicial inquiry into alleged ties between organized crime and senior police, as part of a drug-trafficking network that had infiltrated the police. He has not commented on that claim. At a parliamentary inquiry last year he denied knowing senior police officers and politicians personally.
He is due to appear at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday. The commission began in September 2024 after Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that organized crime groups had penetrated government. Its hearings have drawn wide public attention for their explosive testimony about collusion between criminals and police officials.
