The committee previously raised concerns about continued accreditation of Matlala’s company, but was told therewas no transgression.
Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has tied the police minister to Matlala, who scored a R360 million SAPS tender and was embroiled in the Tembisa Hospital’sR850 million fraud.
Chairperson lan Cameron has called forthe appointment of an ad hoc inquiry with a clear timeline to urgently investigate the allegations.
The cache of firearms seized from controversial businesswoman Shawn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize’s mansion in November last year belonged to flamboyant entrepreneur Vusumuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, the Portfolio Committee on Police has revealed.
The more than 40 firearms, including rifles and pistols, were confiscated during a raid by the Hawks, the SA Police Service (SAPS)and the SA Revenue Service (Sars) on thebusinesswoman’s mansion in Durban’s upmarket La Lucia.
On Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi dropped bombshells, accusing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of links to the underworld and of meddling in criminal investigations.
He tied the minister to Matlala, who scored aR360 million SAPS tender and was embroiled in the Thembisa Hospital’s R850 million fraud flagged by whistle blower, the late Babita Deokaran.
Deokaran, who was the acting chief financial officer in the Gauteng department of health,was killed outside her Johannesburg home in August 2021.
On Monday, lan Cameron, the chairpersonof the Portfolio Committee on Police, told
the media, at a briefing in Cape Town, that two months ago, they had begun questioning how Matlala’s security company,CAT VIP Protection, continuously received firearm accreditation from the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSIRA)despite his past transgressions.
You’d remember a few months ago, Sars conducted a raid at MaMkhize’s home, the owner of a well-known soccer club. During that raid, a whole cache offirearms was seized. All those firearms were registered to a security company belonging to none other than Mr Matlala.
<span;>In May, Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola cancelled Matlala’s contract,pointing out that his company, Medicare24Tshwane District, should never have made it past the first round of the bidding process.
<span;>During his briefing on Sunday, Mkhwanazi revealed that Matlala’s arrest on attempted murder charges led police to uncover,through cellphone analysis, a link betweenMatlala, Brown Mogotsi and the minister.
<span;>Matlala, who is currently awaiting trial in the Kgosi Mampuru maximum security prison in Pretoria, is expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on 11 July for the attempted hit on his ex-lover and actress Tebogo Thobejane.
<span;>Cameron said PSIRA had responded to their concern about the continued accreditation of Matlala’s company by saying they could not find any transgression.
<span;>”Now, if it were you or I who kept firearms illegally at a property where they’re not registered to be kept, and it’s not fit and proper for keeping those firearms,we would not only face criminal charges, but we would obviously have our firearms seized. All of the firearms were returned to the said securityCompany”.
<span;>lan Cameron
<span;>All of those firearms were registered to a security firm owned by Mr. Matlala.
<span;>In May, Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola terminated Matlala’s contract, emphasizing that his company, Medicare24Tshwane District, should not have progressed beyond the initial round of the bidding process.
<span;>During his briefing on Sunday, Mkhwanazi disclosed that Matlala’s arrest on attempted murder charges led police, through cellphone analysis, to establish a connection between Matlala, Brown Mogotsi, and the minister.
<span;>Currently awaiting trial at the Kgosi Mampuru maximum security prison in Pretoria, Matlala is scheduled to appear in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on July 11 for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend and actress Tebogo Thobejane.
<span;>Cameron stated that PSIRA had addressed their concerns regarding Matlala’s company’s ongoing accreditation, claiming they found no violations.
<span;>”Now, if it were you or me found with firearms unlawfully stored at a property where they aren’t registered, we would not only face criminal charges but would also have our firearms confiscated. Instead, all of the firearms were returned to the mentioned security firm,” remarked Ian Cameron
