Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, a central figure in a major ongoing police corruption inquiry in South Africa, has pleaded guilty to charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering as part of a deal with state prosecutors.
Matlala was accused of bribing top police officials to secure a 360 million rand ($22 million; £16.5 million) tender for his healthcare company, Medicare24, in 2024.
The plea agreement, which has not yet been approved by the magistrate, would see Matlala testify against “high-ranking officials,” according to state advocate Santhos Manilall.
Police chief Gen. Fannie Masemola is among those facing charges linked to the case, although he has denied any wrongdoing.
Manilall told the court in Pretoria that it took nearly two months of negotiations to reach the agreement.
If accepted, the deal would result in the 49-year-old Matlala serving an eight-year prison sentence.
The state advocate said the “sacrifice” of a lighter sentence would be worthwhile because “for the first time, we have an accused who has given us details that we would otherwise not have known.”
As part of the agreement, Matlala is required to provide honest and full testimony in future trials.
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA), the junior partner in South Africa’s governing coalition, strongly criticized the arrangement, describing it as a “sweetheart deal” and “a betrayal of accountability” that may not lead to successful prosecutions.
DA justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach said the agreement reflected a two-tier justice system, arguing that “one of the country’s most prominent corruption accused is allowed to negotiate what amounts to a discounted sentence.”
The magistrate presiding over the Pretoria court is expected to rule on the plea deal next week.
Matlala, who is also facing a separate murder charge that he denies, has been named by a witness before the Madlanga Commission as being part of a drug-trafficking cartel that allegedly infiltrated the police service.
He has not commented on the allegation. However, while testifying before a parallel parliamentary corruption inquiry last year, he denied personally knowing senior police officers and politicians.
Matlala has yet to appear before the Madlanga Commission.
Witnesses at the inquiry, which began in September last year, have alleged collusion between criminal underworld figures and senior police officials.
The commission was established after senior police officer Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged in July last year that organised crime groups had infiltrated the government.
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