PRETORIA - Alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has finally appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee probing claims of rot and alleged political interference in the criminal justice system on Wednesday.
But it took some time to get to that point, as Members of Parliament disagreed over whether proceedings should continue without a signed statement from Matlala.
This was after evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse, told the committee that Matlala had not provided a final, signed statement but hoped that it would be signed by today or Thursday.
“It is not a precondition to have a signed statement before appearing. What is important is that he gives his evidence under oath and is held to whatever answers he gives,” he told the MPs.
Anderson added that Matlala had reviewed the draft and was familiar with its contents, allowing questioning to proceed.
But the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party disagreed, with MP Sibonelo Nomvalo arguing that established committee practice required a proper, signed document before any witness could be questioned.
“We identified discrepancies in General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s statement because we did not want to carry on with a statement which has loopholes. Because a statement is a legal document and might be used in litigation in future. We are not comfortable with cross-questioning a witness under a statement which has not been signed,” Nomvalo said.
He further argued that if Matlala comes later and says ‘The statement was unsigned, I can’t take ownership of it,’ they will have a problem.
READ| LIVESTREAM | MPs hear evidence from 'Cat' Matlala
MK rather suggested an adjournment to allow Matlala to finish consultations with his lawyers.
EFF leader Julius Malema, however, pushed back, saying there was no need to delay.
“There is actually no problem with the proposal to proceed. To compare this with Mkhwanazi is difficult to understand. Mkhwanazi wanted to depose an affidavit; he just titled it differently, and we told him to correct it...”
Malema accused some MPs of changing their tune. He said some MPs were initially at the forefront of making demands that ‘Cat must be brought to face the commission. “The Cat is here. Let’s attend to the issues we said we wanted to attend to yesterday, ” Malema said.
Malema reminded members that Parliament’s Hansard, which serves as an official record, and the fact that Matlala is prepared to take an oath are enough for the EFF.
Eventually, the committee agreed to continue.
Matlala is in the hot seat and will face questions about his alleged role in the corruption involving suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi.
It's also expected that he will be questioned about procurement irregularities at the SAPS, in reference to the R360 million SAPS healthcare contract, as well as the Tembisa Hospital Tender in relation to Babita Deokaran, who was murdered on account of being a whistleblower.