A police witness told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday that Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala provided tip-offs to officers as an informant before facing charges linked to a drug cartel.
Witness I, testifying under a pseudonym via audio for security reasons, said he knew Matlala through work with the Tactical Operations Management Section. He stated that Matlala supplied information via Captain Felani Zungu that led to the arrests of several wanted suspects, including one known as John Wick. The witness also described a 2025 meeting facilitated by Matlala in which he was asked to assist Crime Intelligence officer Feroz Khan in a cocaine-related scandal in exchange for a promotion and payment. Khan was arrested last month alongside Hawks head Ebrahim Kadwa on separate charges. Separately, the commission heard testimony from IPID assistant director Takalani Zelda Maphosho about events at the 2021 Aeroton cocaine seizure of 715.86 kg. She maintained that Khan interfered at the scene, though she acknowledged her account relied on complainant statements without further interrogation of those complainants. The proceedings are scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
