JOHANNESBURG – “Nothing Matlala said shocked me. It shouldn’t shock South Africans either. We’ve known about this decay, corruption, and the undermining of the rule of law for the last 15 years.”
Those are the words of Democratic Alliance MP Glynnis Breytenbach, reflecting on the explosive testimony heard at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility this week.
For a few days, the Tshwane correctional facility became the home of Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee.
Members of Parliament (MPs) took the opportunity to grill alleged underworld crime boss Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, as well as SAPS Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane.
Bags full of cash for bribes, alleged drug-trade links and claims of cellphone evidence tampering dominated proceedings.
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Matlala admitted he's no saint but has attempted to deflect the blame, saying he’s being failed by the system.
He also admitted to handing out R500,000 in two separate bribery payments to former Police Minister Bheki Cele.
But Breytenbach says this was simply a symptom of a system that has been failing for more than a decade.
She told eNCA that Matlala’s testimony before the committee only confirmed what many already knew.
The DA MP noted how many people have been allowed to move through life without consequences, referencing Matlala long history of cases that were seemingly withdrawn.
“Matlala is seasoned at having brushes with the law, and it started as far back as around 2000. He’s lived a charmed life in that everything appears to have been withdrawn. He was acquitted twice, and he was convicted once of a house robbery...”
ActionSA MP Dereleen James, who also challenged Matlala directly during the proceedings, described the session as deeply frustrating.
“It’s clear that I did not scream at this man. If anything, I was assertive. We needed to get the truth out of him. I think where things became a little bit frustrating was when he told me that I’m lying,” she said.
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James explained that the most frustrating part of this committee is that MPs have had to act as investigating officers.
She said this after finding herself having to verify information at the Brooklyn Police Station prior to questioning Matlala.
She says she did this to ensure there were grounds for the evidence presented before her and what she was questioning.