News24 | ‘Lot of data’ wiped from ‘Cat’ Matlala’s phones before IDAC intervened – Johnson tells MPs

IDAC head Andrea Johnson before the ad hoc committee on Thursday.

• IDAC head Advocate Andrea Johnson is testifying before the ad hoc committee established to investigate police corruption.
• She told the committee that IDAC was currently investigating a R360-million tender awarded to a company belonging to Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
• Several officials are now under investigation by IDAC.

Several sets of data were deleted from two cellphones belonging to businessman and attempted murder-accused Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala before anti-corruption investigators could access them.

The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) is probing a R360-million South African Police Service (SAPS) healthcare tender awarded to one of Matlala’s companies, which was later cancelled by suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu after irregularities were uncovered.

On Thursday, IDAC head advocate Andrea Johnson testified before the ad hoc committee established to investigate police corruption. She said that IDAC was investigating several SAPS supply chain management officials linked to Matlala’s R360-million healthcare contract with the SAPS.

Crucial to her testimony was Matlala’s cellphones.

“A police official brought two cellphones to IDAC officials. We did not have to [switch] them on because they already were [on] when they arrived. The data was downloaded by a cyberexpert in the presence of [the] police official and the phones were then returned.

“IDAC was never in possession of the cellphones, other than during the download process. As he was downloading them, the cyberexpert informed the investigators that a lot of data had been deleted,” Johnson said.

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On 16 February last year, IDAC received a referral from the SAPS to look into corruption allegations regarding the SAPS tender awarded to Matlala.

“We [IDAC] heard in the media that the police had seized Mr Matlala’s cellphones. Given that the police had seized the phones and that IDAC was [already] investigating the SAPS tender, there was a genuine concern that these devices could be lost and/or evidence could be tampered with.

“IDAC went to a judge in chambers and obtained a cyber search warrant. It also obtained a normal search warrant for documents and any other relevant material. IDAC was not aware at the time that the PKTT [Political Killings Task Team] and Organised Crime [unit] were already in possession of the cellphones, as there was nothing for us to conclude that they were involved in the matter,” she said.

Johnson testified that IDAC then contacted the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) in Gauteng to establish if they would allow IDAC access to Matlala’s phones.

She said:

“In the interim, IDAC was able to determine, through national commissioner of police [General Fannie Masemola] that the cellphones were with the PKTT and that [Masemola] had arranged with [Crime Intelligence head] Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo to allow IDAC access.

“The assertions by Lieutenant-General [Nhlanhla] Mkhwanazi have done nothing but expose the investigations that IDAC had been conducting, and which were unknown to Mr Matlala at the time. However, given the 6 July 2025 media exposé, IDAC had been forced to make this disclosure, despite potential adverse risks to its investigation,” she said.

Matlala is a central figure in the machinations described in the Madlanga Commission and the ad hoc committee.

READ | Cat Matlala claimed to have paid millions to Mchunu, Sibiya, Shibiri, Khan, says Witness C

News24 Investigations reported that, not only was Matlala flagged by murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran for suspicious Tembisa Hospital contracts, in June 2024, his company, Medicare24 Tswane District, was awarded the R360-million SAPS health services tender, despite having zero qualifications, and amid allegations of fraud, fronting, and collusion.

Matlala is awaiting trial on charges related to the 2023 attempt on the life of his ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane.

Hearings continue.