Matlala claims IDAC investigators wanted him to implicate top police officials

Alleged cartel figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has made serious allegations about his arrest and interactions with investigators from the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), claiming he was approached to provide information that could implicate senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials.

During his testimony at Madlanga Commission on Monday, Matlala said he was being held at the C-Max correctional facility in Kokstad when he was requested to attend a consultation.

He alleged that IDAC investigators, identified as Perumal, Bellonchun and Padayachee, arrived and served him with a warrant of arrest.

According to Matlala, the investigators told him that his arrest was intended to help them pursue specific senior police officials rather than because they were primarily interested in him.

He identified the officials as General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, General Fannie Masemola and General Dumisani Khumalo.

Matlala alleged that the investigators wanted him to provide information that would implicate the senior police officers.

He recounted being taken to the Sheraton Hotel, where he was allegedly told he would meet a senior investigator referred to as the chief.

He said the investigator, whom he identified as Perumal, later asked whether he had information about the three generals.

Matlala maintained that he had no information to provide and was encouraged to contact one of the generals directly.

He said he deliberately used a normal telephone call instead of WhatsApp because he believed the conversation could be corroborated through call records.

The allegations extended to the manner in which his statement was obtained.

Matlala claimed that Perumal personally typed his statement and included information that he had not provided.

He said he became uncomfortable with the process and asked a member of his legal team to document what was happening. Although a video recording was not possible, photographs were allegedly taken.

He further claimed that investigators refused to include certain allegations about another individual in his statement, despite his insistence that they be recorded.

Matlala also raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his Section 204 statement, saying he signed the document without reading its contents and that some of the information attributed to him did not originate from him.

He told the inquiry that he could not be expected to answer questions about information he had never provided during the statement-taking process.

His testimony has placed the conduct of the investigators, the circumstances surrounding his arrest and the preparation of his statement under scrutiny.

Matlala said he wanted to provide the background to his interactions with investigators because he had limited time to consult with his legal representatives before appearing before the inquiry.