By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
The Underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala had entered into a plea and sentencing agreement with the state in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday in which he pled guilty to charges linked to corruption, fraud, and money laundering.
The court is yet to decide on a sentencing which is included in the plea agreement. He appeared in court a day after his case had been separated from his co-accused in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Wednesday which gives the space for him to be tried on his own.
The co-accused in question is one suspended national police commissioner, Fannie Masemola. The charges brought against Matlala include a health services contract which was given to him by the South African Police Services (SAPS) to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane district.
The tender in question was budgeted at R360m, however the state had stated that the contract which ultimately added up to R228m should have never been approved. The contract was cancelled in May 2025 after an internal audit was conducted and discovered irregularities, and by that point R50m had already been paid out.
The magistrate had stated that Matlala had been approached on Wednesday to hear whether he could accommodate the proceedings, and had asked the state to confirm the plea and sentencing agreement.
The state had then decided to read affidavits from senior investigators who had set out the deal. The court had heard that Matlala paid officer, Rachel Matjeng, R300,000 which was referenced in the investigating officer’s affidavit. The state had also mentioned that Matlala will plead guilty to all counts of money laundering.
The state had also read an affidavit from SAPS Chief Risk Officer, Charity Matlou, who was the complainant. She stated that she understood that the accused would plead guilty and that she had been informed of the charges brought against Matlala and ultimately agreeing to the deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence.
Matlala currently remains in custody at the C-max prison at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, where he is being detained as a high risk inmate. He will also face a separate trial on 25 charges which includes 11 counts of attempted murder.