Deputy President Paul Mashatile has denied claims made at the Madlanga Commission that he met or intended to meet businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Sergeant Fannie Nkosi testified that Matlala requested his bank card for such a meeting in December 2024. Mashatile stated he was out of the country at the time and does not know the individuals involved.
On 23 March 2026, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi of SAPS Gauteng’s organised crime unit testified before the Madlanga Commission that Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, an alleged attempted murder accused, called him in December 2024 requesting the return of his Luxor credit card. Nkosi said: “Matlala called [me]. He needed this Luxor card again urgently as he was going to meet Deputy President Paul Mashatile and then meet suspended deputy police chief Shadrack Sibiya.” The card had been left in a jet ski owned by Pretoria taxi boss Jothan Zanemvula Msibi, who died in 2024, and was collected by Nkosi on instructions from Msibi’s son later that December. WhatsApp records show Nkosi sent photos of the card to Matlala on 23 December 2024, after discussions about the meetings. Nkosi had omitted mention of Mashatile in his written statement to the commission, which evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson questioned, but Nkosi denied protecting the deputy president. Weeks earlier, police raided Matlala’s home searching for kidnapped business partner Jerry Boshoga, during which Matlala texted Nkosi to inform “our main guy”—Shadrack Sibiya—about the raid. In response, Deputy President Mashatile categorically denied the claims via acting spokesperson Keith Khoza: “Of significance is that the Deputy President does not know the individual referred to in the testimony and has never had any association or dealings with them. Greater significance is that the Deputy President was out of the country at the time that Mr Matlala purportedly met with him or intended to do so.” Mashatile is prepared to cooperate with the commission.
