Former Police Minister Bheki Cele is under intense scrutiny following revelations that he stayed at a luxury penthouse owned by Vusumusi “Cat” Matlala — a businessman at the centre of explosive allegations tying him to criminal syndicates and political interference.
According to News24’s investigative series “9 Lives”, Cele — a senior ANC figure — enjoyed exclusive accommodation at Matlala’s high-end Pretoria property, prompting serious questions about his relationship with the controversial businessman.
The revelations come amid a mounting national scandal sparked by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who on Sunday accused Matlala of being deeply embedded in organised crime, while also bankrolling political campaigns — specifically those of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
During his bombshell briefing, Mkhwanazi presented WhatsApp conversations allegedly linking Matlala to Mchunu’s close associate Brown Mogotsi, alongside evidence of direct financial support for Mchunu’s political ambitions.
Matlala, whose R360 million SAPS contract was abruptly terminated in May 2025, is no stranger to controversy. He has been named in connection with a string of high-profile criminal cases, including the attempted assassination of actress Tebogo Thobejane and the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran — a case that shocked the nation and intensified calls for accountability in state corruption.
With Cele’s name now connected to Matlala’s opulent lifestyle, critics and opposition parties are demanding a full investigation into the extent of political leaders’ entanglement with figures operating in the shadows of both business and crime.
As the scandal deepens, pressure is mounting on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration to act swiftly, with transparency and integrity hanging in the balance — not only for Cele but for the broader trust in South Africa’s police leadership and political elite.
