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IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Why South African commissions fail to deliver justice and perpetuate violence
THE Marikana Massacre is one of many examples of how commissions of inquiry fail to deliver justice for victims and their families, just like the Marikana Commission did. Those responsible continue with their lives, argues the writer. LONDIWE GUMEDE FORMER Economic Freedom Front (EFF) politician Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi argues that a president cannot find anyone guilty. He is, instead, advocating for a "proper" judicial commission of inquiry, led by a judge, with strict timelines. He deems this "proper" for a democracy. However, the subsequent analysis of South African commissions reveals how they often fall short of this ideal, instead perpetuating systemic violence and delaying justice. The Commissions Act, 1947 (Act No. 8 of 1947), used for enquiries like the Zondo Commission on State of Capture, originated under British colonial rule. This embedded a legalistic facade for systemic violence. It enabled apartheid-era enquiries, such as the Hefer Commission (2003) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which probed allegations of apartheid espionage against the then-National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli and the then-Justice Minister Penuel Maduna, and apartheid-era crime, respectively, to probe without any accountability. There was also the Donen Commission, which probed the UN's 'oil for food' program, which exonerates individuals linked to the scandal, like Tokyo Sexwale and former Director General Sandile Nogxina. Like colonial inquests pathologising indigenous resistance, modern commissions prioritise bureaucratic order over human dignity. Actress Tebogo Thobejane's condemnation, 'No mention of the lack of protection… left to fight alone,' echoes this centuries-old erasure. After a brush with death, she now attends a trial process that offers legal theatrics, not safety. Thobejane, a survivor of a hit allegedly engineered by her ex-boyfriend Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and his wife, feels betrayed by the lack of protection against the suspected mastermind of the underworld. Commissions ritually harvest victim trauma while withholding redress. Matlala will likely be the subject of a commission of inquiry headed by acting deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga after his name was mentioned by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi two weeks ago. The Marikana Commission, which was established after the August 2012 massacre of Lonmin mine workers, gathered 641 days of testimony from widows of massacred miners and colleagues of the departed miners yet delivered no prosecutions or timely reparations. Similarly, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) heard 21,000 victim testimonies but granted amnesty to 1,500 perpetrators, providing only negligible justice. This dynamic inherits colonial evidence-gathering: Black pain becomes archival fodder, catalogued and then discarded. As Thobejane noted, President Cyril Ramaphosa's speeches often overlook victims, reducing their experiences to procedural footnotes. Commission structures inherently protect power networks. The Mokgoro Commission (2018) and Ginwala Inquiry (2007) scrutinised prosecutors threatening political elites under the NPA Act. Enquiries into police violence, such as those in Khayelitsha (2012), operated with weaker mandates. This bifurcation mirrors colonial "divide and rule" tactics, ensuring that accountability evaporates. The Zondo Commission's R1 billion inquiry, for instance, yielded minimal prosecutions despite documenting over R1.5 trillion in state capture. Victims like Thobejane receive a whiff of justice, marked by endless postponements while perpetrators retain influence. Ramaphosa's latest commission of inquiry's mandate is investigation, not prosecution. Judicial appointments cloak commissions in false objectivity. Retired judges like Farlam (Marikana) and Seriti (Arms Deal) lent legitimacy to enquiries that ultimately shielded the interests of the state and corporations. The president's latest 'independent commission' further demonstrates how these bodies often obscure underlying political complexities and power struggles. This legal theatre pathologises victims: Marikana miners were framed as 'illegal strikers,' while Thobejane's assault became a tabloid spectacle. When commissions centre perpetrators' due process over victims' safety, they enact "terror through bureaucracy." The TRC's unresolved legacy continues to haunt recent and past commissions. Thirty years later, only 137 of its recommended prosecutions have been investigated, while apartheid-era cases like the Cradock Four murders remain in legal limbo. Nomonde Calata's tears at a 2025 inquest echo her 1996 TRC testimony, testifying to the commission's broken promises. Thobejane's demand for 'accountability and support' confronts this cycle; her ex-boyfriend faces new charges while his police and political connections remain intact. Reparations remain theoretical: TRC victims received a single payment of R30 000 each, while Marikana families await R1 billion in compensation. This reflects colonialism's core calculus: human suffering indexed against fiscal "pragmatism."Breaking this machinery requires centring victims as architects, not evidence. Unlike President Ramaphosa's commissions, a transformative approach would enforce existing recommendations: implementing the Khayelitsha Commission's 2012 police reforms, funding TRC-mandated educational reparations, and prosecuting the network of Thobejane's ex-boyfriend beyond his hitmen. Thobejane's courage, demanding protection while testifying, sets a model for this agency. Yet, without dismantling the Commissions Act and colonial-era legalisms, enquiries remain stone fortresses where violence is ritualised, not remedied. South Africa remains fractured by inequality, a landscape where commissions consecrate state power while the vulnerable fight alone in the ruins. (Gumede is a freelance journalist with interests in politics, economics, sports, travel, and community news. Her views don't necessarily reflect those of the Sunday Tribune or IOL)
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Matlala court case: ‘We will be watching this one closely' says MK party
Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Sunday on concerns about the country's security. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party says it will be keeping a close eye on the legal proceedings against controversial businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. Matlala is in the spotlight following explosive revelations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, this week. Mkhwanazi claimed that Matlala is part of a plot that led to the disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team. It is alleged that Matlala, through businessman Brown Mogotsi, has been able to influence the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu, into doing his bidding. The MK party was protesting outside the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Friday, where Matlala and his co-accused appeared in connection with the attempted murder of actress Tebogo Thobejane. He reportedly appeared under heavy police guard. 'Mr Matlala faces very serious cases, and we have just had a spate of botched cases by the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority], so we will be watching this one closely', he said. The wheels of justice must move on Matlala Tau said ordinary South Africans are victims of a network of corruption that allegedly involves prosecutors, police, judges, and politicians in parliament. 'So, as members of the MK party led by the caucus leader of our legislature caucus, we are here to say to our courts that we are calling for justice for the victims of the many crimes of those who believe that they can do criminality with impunity. 'We believe that Mr Matlala must be treated like any other criminal. We also believe that a thorough investigation must be done so that we do not have botched cases. 'The people of South Africa find themselves in a space where no one fights for them. They (NPA) must go into this without fear or favour,' he said. ALSO READ: Charges laid against Mchunu as pressure mounts on Ramaphosa to act amid national security concerns Matlala's alleged plot to kill Thobejane It is still not clear why Matlala allegedly ordered a hit on Thobejane. However, it has been reported that the two are former lovers. Thobejane was shot in the foot and survived the hit. This incident occurred in 2023. This matter was postponed to allow the NPA to consolidate Matlala's other cases. He was arrested in May this year and has been held at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. NOW READ: Senzo Mchunu investigation will take longer to finalise, says Public Protector
The South African
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Vusumuzi "Cat" Matlala back in court for alleged Thobejane hit attempt
On 11 July 2025, tender tycoon, Vusumuzi 'Cat' Matlala, appeared before the Alexander Magistrate's Court. On 14 May 2025, police arrested Matlala for the attempted murder of his former girlfriend, actress and social media influencer, TebogoThobejane. He cut a sullen picture as he stood in the dock, with both his hands and feet handcuffed. His wife, Tsakani Matlala, stood beside him as a fellow accused in the matter. Leader of the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party in Gauteng, Able Tau said, 'We believe that Mr Matlala has a lot to answer to and to answer for.' According Thobejane, in October 2023, she and a friend were driving on the N1 highway near Sandton, Johannesburg, when a hail of bullets suddenly hit their car. Thobejane was shot in the foot, while her friend sustained a serious spinal cord injury. She has since launched the Botlhale Foundation, which she said was inspired by her survival of the shooting incident. Apart from the attempted murder charge, Matlala and his wife stand accused of conspiracy to commit murder and attempt to defeat the ends of justice. Musa Kekana (35) and Tiego Floyd Mabusela (47) are the suspected hitmen that Matlala allegedly hired. Matlala was recently named by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, in an explosive media briefing held last Sunday. Mkhwanazi said Matlala enjoyed political protection because of a link to Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu. 'As MK we are very angry, we believe that this country cannot be handed to criminals, regardless of how much money they have,' said Tau. Matlala's attempted murder case was postponed to 26 August 2025. He remains in custody for another separate matter that he has been arrested for. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- IOL News
New charges expected as Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala murder case widens
Vusumizi 'Cat' Matlala and his wife, Tsakani, including their co-accused appeared in court for attempted murder charges. Controversial businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala is expected to face additional charges, as legal proceedings over the alleged attempted murder of socialite Tebogo Thobejane continue to unfold. On Friday, Matlala and three co-accused appeared at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court. They face charges related to a 2023 shooting on the N1 near Sandton, during which Thobejane — known for her role in the television drama Muvhango — was shot in the foot. A female passenger was left with a serious spinal injury. The state announced plans to centralise two other pending matters — one in Pretoria West and another in Lyttelton — into the current case. Magistrate Rennie Boshoff postponed proceedings to 26 August. 'All the cases for the accused have been remanded to August 26,' Boshoff said. The court appearance drew a large special task force police presence, highlighting the high-profile nature of the case. Matlala, 49, appeared in shackles and was transported under heavy guard to the maximum-security C-Max unit at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. He is accused of orchestrating a network of corruption, fraud and violence. Co-accused include his wife, Tsakani Matlala, Musa Kekana (accused number one), and Tiegi Floyd Mabusela, also known as Danny. Charges against them include attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering. In May, Tsakani Matlala was added to the charge sheet and granted R20,000 bail due to poor health and her role as a mother of young children. Bail conditions include surrendering her passport, remaining in Gauteng, and avoiding contact with witnesses or relatives of the other accused. Matlala was arrested in Midrand on 14 May following what police termed a 'high-profile investigation'. He stands accused of orchestrating the alleged hit on Thobejane and laundering millions, including funds linked to a R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) health services tender. That contract — awarded to a company linked to Matlala — was cancelled in May by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who said the firm should never have advanced past the initial bidding phase. Once known for flaunting luxury vehicles and opulent properties, Matlala is now classified as a high-risk inmate at C-Max, where he is held alongside convicted killer Thabo Bester. During a recent raid, a mobile phone was found in his possession. An internal investigation is under way. 'Cat Matlala is at the C-Max correctional facility because of a classification. He is classified as high-risk,' Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale confirmed. 'On Sunday morning, we did a surprise search and found a cellphone in his possession.' At the time, Matlala had been housed in a medium-security section of the prison. Authorities are probing how he obtained the device. It has been handed to the SAPS. Separately, Matlala's name has emerged in politically charged allegations. During a recent press briefing in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu was under criminal investigation and linked to corrupt elements within the SAPS. Mkhwanazi cited Matlala's allegedly irregular tender award as an example of systemic issues. Mchunu has denied any association with Matlala, describing the allegations as baseless. IOL News
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Alleged crime kingpin and tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat' Matlala in court over attempted murder charges
Vusimuzi 'Cat ' Matlala a wealthy government contractor, will appear at the Alexandra Regional Court for attempted murder charges. Image: IOL Graphics 'High-risk' controversial tender tycoon and crime accused Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala is expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Friday morning, following his decision to abandon a bail application last month. His wife, Tsakani Matlala, was granted bail of R20,000. Matlala, 49, who is a Pretoria businessman, faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering. He is currently being held at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre's C-Max unit. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Matlalas face charges linked to a high-profile attack on actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, who survived a dramatic shooting incident in October 2023 on the N1 highway near Sandton, Johannesburg. Thobejane, known for her role on the popular television drama Muvhango, was shot in the foot, while a female passenger in the car sustained a serious spinal cord injury. Matlala's wife, Tsakani, was added to the case in May. Last month, the court was told that the lawyers on both sides had made a deal before the hearing. This was because of her health and the fact that she has small children, the prosecutors did not argue against letting her out on bail. As part of her bail conditions, Tsakani was ordered to surrender her passport, remain in Gauteng, and refrain from contacting witnesses or relatives of the other accused. Matlala was arrested in Midrand on May 14 following what police described as a high-profile investigation. Officials say he was behind the hit attempt on Thobejane and helped clean millions in dirty money, including cash from a shady R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) tender. Matlala, who used to show off luxury cars, and huge houses, now shares a maximum-security prison with high-profile criminals like convicted killer Thabo Bester. Recently, a mobile phone was discovered in Matlala's possession during a raid led by Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale at Kgosi Mampuru's C-Max section. The device was confiscated and handed over to SAPS. 'Cat Matlala is at the C-Max correction facility because of a classification. He is classified as high-risk,' Thobakgale said. 'On Sunday morning, we did a surprise search and found a cellphone in his possession.' At the time of the discovery, Matlala was being housed in a medium-security section of the prison, referred to as 'local.' Thobakgale said investigations are ongoing to determine how he accessed the device. 'When we find objects like cellphones in cases that are high-risk like this one, we hand the object over to the South African Police Service, which is what we did immediately,' Thobakgale said. Matlala has recently been linked to Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu in serious allegations of interference and misconduct within the police service, made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. During a press conference held in Durban on Sunday, Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu was the subject of a criminal investigation and implicated in a broader scheme involving corrupt elements within SAPS leadership. Matlala's company had been awarded a R360-million health services tender from the SAPS. However the tender has since been scrapped. In May 2025, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola cancelled the contract, stating that Matlala's firm should not have progressed beyond the initial bidding stage. Meanwhile, Mchunu has rejected the allegations and denied any connection to Matlala. IOL
