Jeff Wicks – News24 Investigations
News24's investigation spanned months and exposed how tenderpreneur Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala steered a web of control that reached the highest echelons of South African policing.
After securing a R360-million SAPS health services tender, despite zero qualifications, amid allegations of fraud, fronting and collusion, Matlala's influence extended to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and former minister Bheki Cele.
Our 9 LIVES investigation revealed how Matlala – previously flagged by murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran for suspicious Tembisa Hospital contracts – funded an extravagant lifestyle of Rolls-Royces, designer clothing, and mansions, while his company, Medicare24, failed to deliver services and left employees unpaid.
This multilayered investigation traced the deadly intersection of tender fraud, political protection, and criminal violence – showing how R50 million in taxpayer money disappeared while officials looked away.
Prince of Pretoria: Cat Matlala posed as Eswatini royal to secure R95k-a-month mansion
Tenderpreneur and fraud accused Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala allegedly posed as an Eswatini prince to secure a lease for a luxury, multimillion-rand Pretoria mansion.
WATCH | The moneyman: How Cat Matlala’s Mike van Wyk charmed EMPD’s Mkhwanazi
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala infiltrated the South African Police Service and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) through the connivance of senior officers and the influence of his allies.
Why national police commissioner Fannie Masemola will face charges tied to Cat Matlala
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola is staring down criminal prosecution related to Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala’s sullied police tender and payments worth R50 million after he was warned, twice, of potential fraud.
Inside top cop arrest blitz over Cat Matlala's tainted R360m police tender
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and 12 high-ranking police officers face fraud and corruption charges over a R360-million police health tender scandal. The officers allegedly helped the notorious tenderpreneur illegally secure the lucrative contract through systematic bid-rigging.
WATCH
Cat Matlala, the Ozempic ‘diva’ cop, and his secret SAPS deepthroat
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala lavished a high-ranking cop with gifts of cash and Ozempic – his largesse buying him access to an official in the police’s back-office management.
From grill to gold: How Cat Matlala’s wife scored R3.7m Ekurhuleni deal
Tsakane Matlala, Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala’s wife, scored a R3.7-million Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality contract using a company she had controlled for just 10 days.
High flying: How Cat Matlala courted Nedbank for lux R70m OR Tambo terminal deal
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala planned to build a luxury private terminal at OR Tambo International Airport and was in talks with Nedbank for R70 million per year in funding.
WATCH
Same car, new wife: Cat Matlala’s blue light lies unravel with new Sun City holiday video
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala lied to Parliament’s ad hoc committee when he told MPs his vehicles were not fitted with blue lights, shifting blame for the use of these lights to his estranged ex-wife.
Tender prophet Cat Matlala rented SAPS medical clinic 6 months before R360m award
Vusimusi Cat Matlala rented a clinic on South African Police Service (SAPS) property six months before he scored a tainted R360 million police health services tender.
Cat Matlala’s tender kickback cops and secret cash scheme exposed
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala channelled cash to high-ranking cops after he landed a R360-million police health services tender. News24 can reveal that the tenderpreneur made payments seemingly intended for Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, in the police’s finance section, and Captain Brian Cartwright.
Cele, Matlala held secret summit at Tembisa tender don’s Zimbali villa
Former Police Minister Bheki Cele held a secret meeting with Cat Matlala at Ballito’s plush Zimbali estate, in a villa owned by Tembisa Hospital tender don, Morgan Maumela.
10 missed calls: Bheki Cele’s frantic efforts to talk to tender kingpin ‘Cat’ Matlala
Tender don Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala built a life of wealth from state tenders, both at Tembisa Hospital and the SAPS, and has been accused of capturing politicians. Bheki Cele denies the pair are friends. Extensive contact by phone tells a conflicting story.
‘Cat’ Matlala to face charges for botched hits on taxi boss ‘Joe Ferrari’, DJ Vettys
Tender don Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala will face charges for botched hits targeting taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and DJ Vettys, with ballistic analysis linking seized guns to at least 10 high-profile killings.
How Cat Matlala bankrolled Crime Intelligence cop’s glitzy ANC gala jamboree
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala sponsored a high-ranking Crime Intelligence cop, Colonel Smanga Simelane, and five others on a jaunt to the ANC’s January 8 celebrations in Cape Town earlier this year.
Bheki Cele stayed at police tender tycoon Matlala’s luxury penthouse
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala lavished former police minister Bheki Cele with stays in an exclusive penthouse in a Pretoria hotel.
Tender King ‘Cat’ Matlala and Senzo Mchunu linked to protection bribe scandal
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi publicly declared that the SAPS has been infiltrated by underworld syndicates that control key cops. He accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of disbanding the police’s political killings task team for ulterior motives. Tender kingpin Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala is at the centre of it all.
How Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala clawed in R50m from SAPS despite corruption red flags
Police top brass paid Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala R30 million – on top of R18 million already disbursed – after they were warned that his company’s tainted R360 million health services tender was beset by claims of fronting, collusion and fraud.
Crime, killers, and contracts: The dark past of tender king Cat Matlala unravelled
Tender don Vusimusi Cat Matlala has a past straddling the criminal underworld and was once arrested with crime boss Radovan Krecjir’s most feared hitmen.
A Rolls-Royce, mansions and cosmetic surgery - Cat Matlala’s R360m tender splurge
While controversial tenderpreneur Vusimusi Cat Matlala lavished his family with expensive clothing, cosmetic surgery, and mansion life, his staff and subcontractors were hit hard in a wave of bad debt he left after his R360 million police tender was scotched.
Cat Matlala’s R360m police deal cancelled days before criminal probe begins
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola has cancelled a R360-million tender awarded to Vusimusi Cat Matlala as allegations of fraud, collusion and flouting of procurement law - which first surfaced three months ago - continue to mount.
Tender king Cat Matlala arrested for botched hit on socialite ex-lover
Vusimusi Cat Matlala is a tenderpreneur who made his fortune through state contracts, and last year scored a R360 million deal from the police. On Wednesday, he was arrested and charged for allegedly masterminding a murder.
Tender tycoon Cat Matlala is person of interest in Tebogo Thobejane attempted hit
Tenderpreneur Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala is a person of interest in a police investigation centred on the botched murder of socialite, influencer and actress Tebogo Thobejane in 2023. This is the latest scandal to blight his R360-million tender windfall, awarded by the same organisation investigating him for conspiracy and attempted murder. He has denied wrongdoing.
National police commissioner ignored fraud warnings in R360m SAPS tender scandal
The award of a R360-million SAPS tender to state-procurement doyen Vusimusi Cat Matlala was riven by irregularities, misrepresentation and scandal, according to an internal audit. Top cop Fannie Masemola was warned about this in January and advised to cancel the tender. He didn't.
Tender 'Cat' risks losing R360m police deal in fronting, fraud scandal
Police commissioner Fannie Masemola has threatened to cancel a controversial R360-million health services tender - clinched by tender baron Vusimusi Cat Matlala - amid allegations of fronting, fraud and a failure to deliver.
Tender tycoon Cat Matlala faces liquidation as R360m police contract hits the skids
Tender tycoon Vusimusi Cat Matlala, who scored a R360 million police health services deal, cannot deliver on the tender and faces liquidation while struggling to pay his staff and suppliers.
Ex-top cop helped approve R360m tender - now she works for Tembisa tycoon who scored deal
A little-known company controlled by Tembisa Hospital tycoon Vusimusi Cat Matlala landed a R360-million police tender midway through 2024. A high-ranking cop on the panel, who appointed Matlala’s firm, resigned three weeks before the deal was awarded and now works with the man she helped appoint.
How tender magnate handed R360m police deal to placeholder director
Tembisa Hospital tycoon Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala resigned his directorship in a company six months after it landed a R360 million police health services tender, handing control to a 29-year-old woman with no business background.
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Journalist: Jeff Wicks
News24 Production Editor: Hanlie Gouws
Design: Sharlene Rood
Image credits: Thahasello Mphatsoe/News24; Yolanda Mdzeke/News24; Savushkin/Getty Images Signature/Canva; Gallo Images/Darren Stewart; Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu; tebogocthobejane / Instagram; Rosetta Msimango/News24; Gallo Images/Die Burger/Theo Jeptha; Supplied/News24; OJ Koloti/Gallo Images; Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo; Alones Creative/iStock/Getty Images Plus; Luba Lesolle/Gallo Images.
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