Hearing record
Day 140
Witness: Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala +2 more
Evidence led by Advocate Mahlape Sello SC
'Cat' Matlala's testimony is pushed to September on constitutional-rights grounds; Padayachee's cross-examination continues; and the commission hears the businessman who says he is too sick to testify was spotted at a Cape Town restaurant.
The day in brief
What you need to know
- Matlala's commission testimony was postponed to 1 September 2026; he must file his statement by 29 July.
- His counsel argued his section 35 rights as a potential accused had to take precedence over the commission's timetable.
- Padayachee's cross-examination on the Khumalo/Mokwele case continued.
- Businessman Suleiman Carrim - repeatedly 'too ill' to testify - was reported to have been spotted at a Cape Town restaurant, sharpening the commission's patience with medical excuses.
Full coverage
The day, in depth
Matlala buys time - to September
Alleged 'Big Five' figure Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, whose R228 million Medicare24 plea deal had collapsed two days earlier, secured a postponement of his commission testimony to 1 September 2026, with his statement ordered filed by 29 July. His counsel, Advocate Anneline van den Heever, argued that his section 35 constitutional rights as a potential accused had to take precedence over the commission's timetable - the defence could not responsibly advise him to testify until it had seen the documents on the failed plea negotiations and understood the full criminal case against him. A visibly irritated Justice Madlanga cut the argument short to focus on the 'broader question' of precedence before granting the postponement.
Padayachee, day two
The bulk of the day continued the cross-examination of IDAC investigator Colonel Brian Padayachee on the directorate's case against Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo over the Mokwele appointment - the thread that would culminate the following day (Day 141) in the commission questioning whether IDAC had any lawful basis for the case at all.
The 'sick' witness at the restaurant
The commission's long-running frustration with businessman Suleiman Carrim - one of the alleged funders in the Medicare24 tender who has postponed testifying repeatedly on ill-health grounds - sharpened when it was reported that the man too unwell to appear had been spotted at a Cape Town restaurant. The commission has warned it may recommend his prosecution under the Commissions Act if he refuses an independent medical assessment.
On the record
Who testified this day
Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala
Businessman; alleged 'Big Five' cartel figure
View profile →Testified · suspended by the NDPPColonel Brian Padayachee
Senior investigator, Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC)
View profile →Testified · ordered back on 14 AugustSuleiman Carrim
Businessman
View profile →Follow the threads
Who Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala connects to
Suleiman Carrim
Evidence leaders described Carrim, with Hangwani Maumela, as one of the apparent funders behind Matlala's R360m Medicare24 tender; Carrim testified that Matlala and Brown Mogotsi 'played' him. Untested allegations.
View profile →Medicare24 / alleged cocaine dealMichael van Wyk
Matlala ran Medicare Tshwane District as a franchise of van Wyk's Medicare24 Holdings; their WhatsApp chats were led as an alleged 'get me a good price' cocaine deal. Untested; both presumed innocent (van Wyk on all counts).
View profile →Blue-lights arrangementJulius Mkhwanazi
Evidence tied Matlala's Cat VIP Protection to a draft EMPD memorandum and 'blue lights' arrangement alongside Mkhwanazi. Untested allegations.
View profile →Alleged co-conduitOupa 'Brown' Mogotsi
Carrim testified that Mogotsi and Matlala together 'played' him into the tender deal; money allegedly flowed to Mogotsi from the Medicare24 chain. Mogotsi denies wrongdoing; untested.
View profile →Zoom out
Related case files
Khumalo / Mokwele appointment
IDAC charged a Crime Intelligence boss over a civilian's appointment. Ten days of testimony left the commission asking what the crime actually was - and by the end the prosecuting authority had withdrawn the case, IDAC's head had resigned, one of her own prosecutors had testified against her, and three senior investigators were suspended.
Read the case file →Case file · Tender fraudMedicare24 SAPS tender
A R360 million police medical tender, about R228 million paid, a web of alleged funders - and a central accused who pleaded guilty, then withdrew the deal and now heads to trial.
Read the case file →In the room & on the record
Counsel, the panel and sources
Evidence led by
- Advocate Mahlape Sello SC
On the panel
- Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga (chairperson)
- Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC