News24 | Cash and carry: Cele got R300k from ‘Cat’ Matlala in Woolies shopping bag, MPs hear

Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala appeared for day two of his testimony before the ad hoc committee investigating police corruption.

• Tenderpreneur “Cat” Matlala told MPs he casually moved R300 000 through Menlyn Maine in his “favourite” Woolworths bag before allegedly handing it to former police minister Bheki Cele.
• He insisted there was nothing unusual about transporting large sums of cash this way, even driving to Umhlanga with R200 000 in the same type of bag — accompanied by up to 16 bodyguards.
• Now jailed and facing serious criminal charges, Matlala’s explosive testimony has become central to the committee’s probe into alleged police corruption, though many of his claims remain unverified.

Tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala arranged for his sister to withdraw R300 000, which was allegedly given to former police minister Bheki Cele in a Woolworths bag.

In January, Matlala’s sister, Claudette, walked into the FNB Menlyn Maine branch in Pretoria, where she got the money.

Minutes later, Matlala joined his sister, with money in hand, and the pair walked up to his luxury penthouse.

For Matlala, safety was no concern as he went straight from the bank to his penthouse in the upmarket Capital Menlyn Maine Hotel, not once stepping outside.

“I always operate with a Woolies bag. It’s my favourite bag. It’s the money bag,” he jokingly said under cross-examination.

READ | Matlala says he paid Cele R500 000 to stop police ‘harassment’, ignored request for more cash

On Thursday, Matlala appeared for day two of his testimony before the ad hoc committee investigating police corruption.

Committee evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse, SC, asked how the money was transported and brought to his apartment.

“We walked,” he said, adding that he picked the R300 000 up from his sister at the bank.

He added:

Arendse argued that it was a “huge amount of money to walk with”.

Matlala retorted that the money was in a Woolworths shopping bag.

“So they have other uses?” Arendse asked, to the laughter of MPs.

Arendse said it sounded far-fetched that someone would travel with R300 000 in a Woolworths bag.

“How?” Matlala asked. In response, Arendse said it was highly unusual to give someone R300 000 in a Woolworths shopping bag and take the bag to KwaZulu-Natal.

Matlala said he was unaware of where Cele had gone after receiving the money.

In March this year, Matlala claimed he made a second cash payment of R200 000 to Cele at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

This was the second time they had met at this specific hotel.

The March payment to Cele was again transported in a Woolworths shopping bag.

Matlala and his bodyguards drove to Umhlanga from Pretoria with the money.

“There were 14 or 16 bodyguards,” he said.

Arendse asked why he would need such a large entourage of protectors.

Matlala said he always travelled with his protectors, not only because he had R200 000 with him.

“I am a businessman, and there are a lot of things happening,” he said.

Matlala, who is currently being held at Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria, faces a range of allegations, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and fraud.

His name has surfaced prominently in the committee’s proceedings due to alleged links with suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

While Matlala’s testimony may provide important context, News24 cannot independently verify all the claims he might make.

Hearings continue on Thursday, when MPs will also have an opportunity to question Matlala.