Madlanga Inquiry gears up for its official launch on September 17, following weeks of preparation and ICT upgrades aimed at ensuring a credible and transparent investigation process. Image credit: Veli Nhlapo.
(The Post News) – On the 14th October 2025, the Madlanga Commission was introduced to new evidence. Testimony revealed an exchange of WhatsApp messages amongst suspected Cartel Kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and five other individuals, one of them being Brown Mogotsi and the other being Maj-Gen Lesetja Senona (Head of HAWKS in Kwa-Zulu-Natal). The text messages indicate that Matlala may have been financially supporting the purchase of property of Sesona’s son. They also suggested that Senona shared institutional/confidential information for Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s benefit.
The Madlanga Commission proceedings were put on halt after security and safety measures were compromised for a witness who was giving a remote testimonial through intermediary. Technical glitches occurred during this mode of testimony. Witness was introduced and is now publicly known as “X”. The Commission is currently in the process of obtaining declassified sensitive and state security information needed for evidence.
Evidence found in the text messages validate that Matlala had a large contract worth R360 Million with the South African Police Service (SAPS) through his personal company, Medicare24. This company was obligated to provide health and risk-management services at police facilities. After irregularities or procurement dysfunctionalities, the former South African Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, instructed that a cancellation of the contract must be induced during the month of May 2025. Matlala responded negatively to this, thus expressing his frustration towards this occurrence to Sesona through text messages. Matlala threatened to go to court to pursue legal action. Sesona responded and encouraged him by saying “Take them on brother.”
Sesona allegedly forwaded confidential South African Police Service documents to Matlala. One message involved forwarding a letter from the South African Police Service National Commissioner to Sesona stipulating the termination of contract with Medicare24. A video clip sent from Matlala to Sesona displaying parts of a South African Police Service audit meeting where non-performance processes were discussed.
There are texts that suggest that Matlala made payments to Mogotsi. These payments are inclusive of financial favours, travel and flight expenses. An example of this is Matlala reportedly paying more than R120 000 for a flight for a number of eight people to attend an African National Congress (ANC) gala dinner in Cape Town. Payments of an estimated R37 000 – R38 000 to a company called Gotlhe Specialists and are linked to Mogotsi.
The text messages also reveal incriminating evidence of an involvement in drug trafficking, tender fraud, contact killing, cross-border hijackings alongside drug trafficking, etc… The Cartel members have been said and accused of blending legitimate business and criminal enterprise using access to senior South African Police Service and political figures to influence a positive outcomes for their dealings.
Madlanga chairperson, Mr Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga emphasized on the three important core values of the Madlanga commission before proceeding on passing on a ruling which are Accounttability, Oppennes and responsiveness. Mbuyiseli stateded that “ Transparency cannot be at the risk of endangering witness X, thus, we must adapt a different format on how witness X’s evidence must be tendered, in due course, the commission will decide on how and when questions may be asked with regard to the testimony.”
The commission proceeded to make the following ruling:
- “Evidence of witness X will be tendered in a different format.”
- “The evidence leader that was leading X will read X’s statement into the record.”
Former SAPS General, Jeremy Vearey, took the liberty of giving his own opinion on the evidence presented and the manner in which it is was presented in, as well as the safety challenges the Madlanga Commission faces. He was invited for a broadcasted live interview. Vearey revealed that he is deeply concerned about the witness testifying on camera, noting that even if a remote system is used, there remains a risk that the witness’s identity could be traced. He explained that technologies such as voice stress and voice print analysis-readily available in the private sector, could potentially be used to identify the witness.
Vearey was firstly concerned about how to effectively disguise the witness’s voice, secondly, is when the witness’s face is obscured. It is then rendered impossible to observe the person’s demeanour or body language which in turn can be misleading resulting in an unfavourable outcome of the case. Re One will not be able to confirm whether what the witness is saying is indeed truthful or deceptive. He further pointed out that beyond the testimony itself, there is lack of clarity regarding the process used to verify the authenticity of the digital evidence, such as text messages to ensure that there have not been any alterations made to them as the possibility of this occurrence cannot be overlooked.
Everything, he warned, can either be replaced, replicated or cloned. As a former member of Intelligence, this is a fully informed opinion, thus emphasizing that a successful elimination of doubt will be determined by the court having 100% certainty that the chain of custody and extraction process is completely secure and beyond the possibility of tampering. He concluded that Whatsapp messages should not be accepted at face value as they can be easily replicated and deceived.
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