Alleged underworld crime boss Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala.
The rise of Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala from a self-described street kid to a central figure in an R228 million rand SAPS medical tender scandal reads like a cinematic thriller.
Sitting at the heart of the Madlanga Commission, Matlala recently made headlines by entering into a plea bargain to turn state witness. But in a dramatic twist, the deal completely unravelled.
When the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court rejected his negotiated 8-year sentence as too lenient, demanding an effective 12-year prison term instead, Matlala did exactly what a street survivor does when backed into a corner: he gambled on himself.
He rejected the court’s terms and withdrew his plea. He will now appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry for a criminal trial in September, effectively betting his freedom on his ability to fight the state.
