Vusimuzi Matlala
Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is a Pretoria-based tenderpreneur and businessman from Mamelodi, alleged by Crime Intelligence and multiple witnesses to be one of the leading figures of the Big Five cartel. His companies — most prominently Medicare24 — won hundreds of millions in government contracts through alleged corrupt means. He was arrested on 14 May 2025 and has been detained at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. His name and business activities are central to the Madlanga Commission hearings and to the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran in August 2021.
Companies: Medicare24 Tshwane District (healthcare procurement), Cat VIP Protection Services, Cat VIP Holdings, Black AK Trading, Cor Kabeng Trading.
Tembisa Hospital fraud: The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) traced 41 suppliers receiving payments from Tembisa Hospital; three companies linked to Matlala received R13,538,292 in contracts. Whistleblower Babita Deokaran first exposed these irregularities in 2021; she was murdered months after flagging Matlala-linked contracts. The broader Tembisa Hospital fraud is assessed at R2 billion in scale. SAPS National Commissioner Fannie Masemola testified to Parliament that approximately 80 corruption cases are linked to Matlala going back to 2007.
SAPS R360m contract: Medicare24 won a R360 million SAPS health-services contract in 2024. Lt-Gen Molefe Fani (SAPS divisional commissioner, supply chain) testified to Parliament’s ad hoc committee on 20 November 2025 that the contract “shouldn’t have been awarded” and that Matlala’s criminal background was never checked before award. The contract was rescinded amid corruption probes. SAPS’s own evaluation report had flagged Matlala’s “unethical conduct in respect of the procurement process” at Tembisa Hospital — yet the contract was awarded anyway.
Arrest and charges: Arrested 14 May 2025; charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering. The attempted murder charges relate partly to a 2023 incident in which a vehicle carrying his former girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, was shot at near Sandton. Detectives testified that hitmen “had to confirm with Matlala” before the attempt. Bail refused — court found the state’s case “water-tight.” Detained at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre.
Cartel structure: Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo identified Matlala as one of the cartel’s leaders. The Big Five was reportedly overall headed by the late taxi boss Jonathan “King Mswazi” Msibi (described as cartel “president”). Co-central figure Katiso “KT” Molefe faces multiple murder charges.
Political connections: Brown Mogotsi is Matlala’s alleged political intermediary — routing payments to ANC events linked to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu via chief of staff Nkabinde. Former Police Minister Bheki Cele admitted meeting Matlala and staying at Matlala’s Pretoria penthouse in late 2024. Crime Intelligence testimony: Matlala was in communications with Hawks head Lesetja Senona and Metro deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi.
Parliament testimony (November 2025): Matlala testified from detention before Parliament’s ad hoc committee. Julius Malema (EFF) questioned him personally. Matlala claimed Bheki Cele arranged a meeting between him and KZN Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at The Pearls in Umhlanga after he complained about not receiving purchase orders under his Medicare24 SAPS contract.
Connections
- Big Five cartel — alleged leading figure; arrested and detained
- Babita Deokaran — murder directly linked to his Tembisa Hospital business operations; she flagged his companies before being killed
- Madlanga Commission — central subject of testimony; his network is a primary investigative thread
- Senzo Mchunu — alleged political protector; payments routed via Brown Mogotsi to ANC events connected to Mchunu
- Special Investigating Unit (SIU) — found three of his companies received R13.5m in fraudulent Tembisa Hospital contracts
- Brown Mogotsi — his alleged political intermediary to the ANC and police networks
- Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi — Mkhwanazi’s July 2025 press conference named Matlala; Matlala testified he met Mkhwanazi via Bheki Cele