Matlala tells Ad Hoc Committee Bheki Cele requested R1 million as gratification

Mapaballo Borotho

Vusimuzi Cat Matlala told the Ad Hoc Committee that former police minister Bheki Cele requested R1 million after assisting him with retrieving his firearms.
Matlala claims he made two cash payments to Cele and that the first was delivered in a Woolworths bag.
He remains in custody on an attempted murder charge and is expected to testify until the evening.

The Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee has heard that the former Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, requested R1 million as gratification.

This was uttered by controversial tenderpreneur Vusimuzi Cat Matlala on his second day of testimony at the Kgosi Mampuru C-max Prison.

On Wednesday, Matlala told the committee that he sought Cele’s help in December 2024 to retrieve his firearms, which were confiscated during a police raid.

In turn, Matlala offered the former police minister a stayover at his penthouse suite, while Cele continued requesting cash favours.

The Committee heard that Matlala paid two cash payments, comprising R300 000 and R200 000, which he ordered via his Medicare 24 Tshwane District Company account at the behest of Cele.

He emphasised that the first cash was delivered in a Woolworths bag to Cele.

“He actually spoke to Bongani, he said you see I helped your friend and I am here at his apartment and he’s not even doing anything to show appreciation,” said Matlala.

“I asked him what that meant because I offered him a place to stay, he said this will not help pay his bills. He told me that he helped me and I am not doing anything. That is when I asked how much he would want me to give him, and he said he would appreciate R1 million,” said Matlala.

It has emerged that there is no living witness to this request, as Bongani Mpungose was present, but he has since passed on.

Matlala is currently detained at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre since his arrest for the charge of attempted murder and involvement in a R2-billion fraud linked to Tembisa Hospital. He has only been charged with attempted murder.

He’s expected to testify until 7 pm.

#AdHocCommittee: Vusimuzi Cat Matlala speaks about his alleged meeting with General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in April this year.

The alleged tenderprenuer claims Mkhwanazi was close to the police’s Acting Deputy National Commissioner, for Support Services Lieutenant General Lineo… https://t.co/Uym4kA6VpB

— Kaya News (@KayaNews) November 27, 2025