09-07-2025
The man at the centre of the Mkhwanazi, Mchunu storm: Who is Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala?
Vusimuzi 'Cat ' Matlala's once a wealthy government contractor, is now at the center of a criminal syndicate probe involving top politicians, assassination plots, illegal firearms, and a growing national scandal.
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?
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 R48 million 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 2025, 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.
Evidence presented by investigators includes WhatsApp messages in which Matlala allegedly ordered the hitman to 'shoot her in the face so that her family does not recognise her.'
His wife, Tsakani Matlala, was also arrested in connection with the plot. Police raids conducted on his property uncovered unlicensed firearms, a R200,000 Rolex watch, and documents linking Matlala to a private security company, CAT VIP Protection, which authorities believe served as a front for broader criminal activities.
