Bheki Cele confirms acquaintance with Vusimuzi Matlala amid inquiry

Testimony sheds light on controversial figures and their interactions

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA [e-mail]

FORMER police minister Bheki Cele yesterday confirmed knowing “very well” attempted murder-accused tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, but not controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi. Cele said he first met Matlala in Durban after Bongani Mpungose, a son of a KwaZulu-Natal businessman, arranged for a meeting.

He was responding to questions from the parliamentary inquiry’s chief evidence leader, Advocate Norman Arendse, SC, who was leading evidence at the inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The inquiry is also probing political interference in the work of the SAPS.

Arendse first asked Cele whether he knew Mogotsi, and he denied knowing him other than “because he was quite big in the media” lately. He also said Mogotsi was not even on his Whatsapp. When asked whether he knew Matlala, Cele’s response was “very well”.

He said his first meeting with Matlala was at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Durban.

“I can't remember the date, but it was after the raid,’ he said in reference to a raid that took place at Matlala’s house last December.

“I did not know him before that,” said Cele.