Matlala’s Madlanga testimony delayed again as lawyers cite prison access problems
PRETORIA — Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s appearance before the Madlanga Commission has been delayed again, after his legal team said repeated problems consulting ...
PRETORIA — Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s appearance before the Madlanga Commission has been delayed again, after his legal team said repeated problems consulting with him at Kgosi Mampuru II Prison made it difficult to file documents on time. His lawyer asked the inquiry to allow late filing of a replying affidavit, heads of argument and a condonation application, but commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga was not convinced Matlala needed to be directly involved to deal with the delay.
Advocate Fatima Missi told the commission that the defence team had faced a series of obstacles while trying to meet Matlala and prepare his case properly. “We beg this Commission humbly to consider all the elements that we consistently have to do to try and ensure that we represent Mr Matlala,” she said. The request came as the legal team sought more time to finalise its response.
Frustration over repeated delays
The postponement adds to growing frustration around Matlala’s testimony, which had already been pushed back earlier in August. The commission previously delayed his evidence to allow his lawyers time to prepare a supplementary affidavit, after he refused to answer most questions on self-incrimination grounds while a separate tender fraud case remains pending.
Matlala has used that privilege to avoid responding to questions about a range of issues before the inquiry, including a 2025 meeting with KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, an alleged donation of impalas to senior police official Shadrack Sibiya, and a loan from Suleman Carrim. He has also declined to answer questions tied to his multimillion-rand SAPS healthcare tender.
His position has already slowed the hearing. Matlala was subpoenaed to testify over two days, but the commission has repeatedly had to adjust its timetable as his legal team asks for more time to prepare filings.
Court threat after lead counsel fell ill
On Monday, Matlala threatened to go to court to stop the hearing after his senior counsel, Annalise van den Heever, fell ill and could not attend. He told the commission he was not willing to face cross-examination without her present and said he needed an extra day to work on his affidavit and heads of argument.
Missi asked for the testimony to be postponed until Tuesday, 25 August, saying the team had not prepared the legal heads needed for the hearing. She told the commission Matlala felt it would be unfair to proceed while his lead counsel was absent through illness, and that his junior counsel were not adequately prepared to carry the case alone.
Madlanga did not accept that Matlala’s personal presence was necessary to resolve the filing delay. He pointed out that the evidence leaders’ answering affidavit raised legal issues that, in his view, the lawyers could handle without extensive consultation with their client.
A case watched far beyond Pretoria
The commission’s scrutiny of Matlala has drawn intense public and media attention. He is already in custody facing 25 criminal charges, including fraud, corruption and attempted murder, while his company stands at the centre of a controversial R228 million SAPS healthcare tender awarded in 2024 and later terminated after fraud allegations surfaced.
Matlala has also been linked by witnesses to claims about organised crime influence inside senior police structures. At the same time, he is reported to be in plea talks with the National Prosecuting Authority. Those parallel processes — a commission hearing, criminal charges and possible plea negotiations — have made every procedural delay matter.
The latest dispute now leaves the inquiry waiting on the next filing step from Matlala’s side. Missi’s request to be allowed to submit the replying affidavit and heads of argument remains before the commission, and Madlanga’s response showed little appetite for extending the process without a stronger explanation.
“We beg this Commission humbly to consider all the elements,” Missi said. The commission is not persuaded — yet.
