Deputy President Paul Mashatile. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Police officer Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, also referred to as Witness F, instructed the Madlanga fee that businessperson and alleged chief of the Large 5 Cartel Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala had talked about a gathering with Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Nkosi stated Matlala had been on the lookout for his bank card in November 2024, which he had left inside a jet ski at Hartbeespoort Dam. Matlala had phoned him a number of occasions, with out success, as a result of he was on account of meet Mashatile and Deputy Nationwide Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and wanted his bank card.
“[Matlala] referred to as me once more, telling me that he wants the cardboard urgently as he was going to satisfy the Deputy President Paul Mashatile, then he would meet Common Sibiya after that,” stated Nkosi.
He stated Matlala had deliberate to make use of the financial institution card that day, nevertheless, he couldn’t affirm whether or not he had wanted the cardboard to pay Mashatile.
“My understanding on the time is that he wished the cardboard because it was in my possession,” stated Nkosi, confirming that it was Matlala who had introduced up Mashatile within the dialog.
Mashatile has, nevertheless, denied any hyperlinks to Matlala in an announcement. In an announcement on Monday, he denied ever assembly with Matlala and acknowledged he has by no means met the alleged cartel chief.
“Deputy President Mashatile categorically denies the claims,” stated his spokesperson Keith Khoza. “Of significance is that the Deputy President doesn’t know the people referenced within the testimony and has by no means had any affiliation or dealings with them.
“Of larger significance is that the Deputy President was in another country on the time that Mr. Matlala purportedly met with him or supposed to take action.”
Quite a few witnesses have accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of being in collusion with Matlala. That is the primary time Mashatile has been linked to Matlala, though Nkosi stated he had not been aware about their interactions.
Nkosi instructed the fee that Matlala had additionally requested the telephone numbers of the South African Police Service (SAPS) head of organised crime, Richard Shibiri, KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Lesetja Senona and Sibiya.
“I did ship such numbers with out suspecting something as I do know him as a respectable businessman,” Nkosi stated. “I affirm that I didn’t know Mr Matlala as a prison; I solely knew him as a businessman.”
Nkosi stated Sibiya would job him with work, together with deployment in Musina the place three suspects had been arrested in 2022 for a cash-in-transit cost, which had drawn the pair nearer to one another.
“Throughout the month of January 2024, whereas I used to be within the workplace of Common Sibiya, I used to be instructed by him that he wished me to go and gather somebody from downstairs within the safety space,” he stated.
He had identified Matlala as a businessperson within the safety trade, who additionally ran a couple of hospital initiatives, and had proceeded to escort him to Sibiya’s workplace.
“I do know Mr Matlala as he used to bike way back and I’m nonetheless biking and in addition know him as he was the primary safety guard of the late Mr Jonathan Msibi, referred to as Mswazi,” Nkosi stated.
He stated he had reconnected with Matlala at Sibiya’s workplace and exchanged telephone numbers.
“Common Sibiya instructed Cat in my presence that if he can’t pay money for him on his cellphone, he is likely to be busy with a state assembly, so Mr Matlala should telephone me and I’ll go the message to him. I then agreed to that as I didn’t see an issue, as I do know him as a businessman,’ stated Nkosi.
He stated Matlala would typically name him on the lookout for Sibiya and alternatively, Sibiya would name him on the lookout for Matlala. Nkosi stated he had not been current when the pair met.
“More often than not, Mr Cat, typically when he was on the lookout for Common Sibiya, he would inform me that I have to be loyal in my work, as he would make issues occur for me by way of getting me promoted to the next rank as he acquired the Nationwide Commissioner Fannie Masemola and the deputy nationwide commissioner Shadrack Sibiya,” stated Nkosi.
Nkosi stated Sibiya had requested that he prepare a gathering with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to resolve their variations. A number of high-profile officers have testified that Sibiya and Mhwanazi had not acquired alongside and sometimes had heated arguments in conferences.
“He instructed me that he and Common Mkhwanazi haven’t been getting alongside and this has been taking place for a really very long time. And even minister [Bheki] Cele knew about it and didn’t do something to resolve the issue till he went on pension,” stated Nkosi.
“I then contacted Lieutenant Common Mkhwanazi to satisfy him. And he instructed me he [was] not [fighting] with Common Sibiya however [Sibiya] have to be the one to inform [him] what the issue is. He additional instructed me that there was an investigation into explicit individuals and Common Sibiya’s title saved on popping out.”
He stated he had met Mkhwanazi greater than as soon as on the instruction of Sibiya to dealer peace: “He tasked me to try this as a result of we talked lots with Common Mkhwanazi over the telephone,” stated Nkosi. Nonetheless, Mkhwanazi had refused to satisfy Sibiya.
