BY: Saneliso Mlambo
Incarcerated tycoon Vusimuzi Cat Matlala secured a September postponement for his testimony at the Madlanga Commission investigating police corruption probes. His defense lawyer Advocate Annelene van den Heever requested the delay to protect his constitutional rights against potential self-incrimination.
Retired Constitutional Court Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga granted this extension but ordered Matlala to submit a written statement by late July. The high-profile postponement comes just days after the businessman rejected a state plea bargain regarding a multimillion-rand police medical tender.
Evidence leaders focused on Matlala alleged network of high-level contacts using cash bribes to buy influence among state officials. The inquiry previously heard evidence that Matlala funneled multiple cash payments directly to suspended metro police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi later admitted he forwarded a fraudulent police clearance certificate on behalf of Matlala security company without performing any evaluation. Outside the commission courtroom scope Matlala faces twenty-five separate criminal charges including eleven counts of attempted murder in high court.