'I was friends with drug dealer'

GONE: 'CAT' SAYS MAN WAS KIDNAPPED AND IS MISSING >>> Recounts how he paid Bheki Cele R500k in cash.

- Molefe Seeletsa

Alleged crime boss and tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has distanced himself from claims that he is part of a drug cartel, though he conceded to maintaining a friendship with an individual allegedly involved in narcotics production.

Matlala resumed his testimony at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria yesterday before parliament's ad hoc committee.

During the session, Matlala - who is facing attempted murder charges for allegedly plotting to kill his former partner, Tebogo Thobejane - recounted details about businessman Jerry Boshoga, who was kidnapped in November 2024 and has been missing since.

Matlala testified that he was told of the kidnapping by Boshoga's brother, who said that Boshoga had phoned to say he was on his way to collect “20 litre drums” in Centurion, containing a substance for producing “narcotics”.

"It was not the actual final product. He said it was some product they were going to use in manufacturing,” he said.

According to Matlala, the brother said that Boshoga got into a Mercedes-Benz at the meeting point and “never came back”.