Who is Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, the figure making headlines?

HE'S 49, flamboyant, allegedly corrupt, and rolling in multimillion-rand tenders - Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, but who is he?

- HOPE NTANZI

Known for his flamboyant lifestyle and multimillion-rand state tenders, Matlala has recently become a central figure in explosive allegations of fraud, violent crime, and high-level corruption.

Matlala rose to prominence through a series of lucrative contracts with the South African government. In 2024, his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, secured a R360 million contract to provide health services to South African Police Service (SAPS) employees.

According to internal documents, the deal generated over R48m in profits before being abruptly cancelled by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.

Masemola cited procurement irregularities and alleged that the contract was awarded under questionable circumstances. The SAPS has since launched a full-scale investigation.

His business activities came under further scrutiny when Matlala’s name was linked to the Tembisa Hospital scandal, one of the biggest corruption sagas in Gauteng’s health system.

‘The scandal, which was brought to light by whistleblower Babita Deokaran before her assassination in 2021, involved nearly R3 billion in allegedly fraudulent payments. Forensic audits have shown multiple tenders connected to Matlala’s network flagged as suspicious.

In May, Matlala was arrested and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to kill, stemming from a 2023 plot to assassinate his former partner, actress and entrepreneur Tebogo Thobejane.