Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a high-profile remand detainee, has been transferred to eBongweni Correctional Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal. The transfer, which took place on December 21, 2025, was guided by standard procedures, including security assessments and inmate classification requirements.
Correctional Service Confirms Matlala’s Transfer
The Department of Correctional Services confirmed that Matlala’s transfer is a routine part of managing high-risk detainees. This move follows heightened security concerns at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, where Matlala was previously held in the C-Max unit.
Matlala was found in possession of a mobile phone, prompting authorities to review his security classification. Correctional Services national commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale led multiple raids at the facility, and the device was handed over to the South African Police Service for investigation.
The 43-year-old businessman faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering, stemming from an alleged shooting incident in October 2023 targeting his former partner, socialite Tebogo Thobejane.
Matlala is also implicated in corruption within law enforcement and the criminal justice system, with investigations describing him as central to claims of police infiltration and undue influence.
He recently appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into corruption in the police and judiciary.
eBongweni Correctional Centre is South Africa’s ultra-maximum security prison, designed for offenders considered unmanageable elsewhere. Inmates spend up to 23 hours a day in solitary confinement under constant surveillance.
The prison’s conditions are strict, with exercise limited to one hour of sunlight in a small enclosed courtyard and movement strictly controlled.
The Department of Correctional Services emphasized that Matlala’s transfer does not affect his legal rights or access to legal representation.
Arrangements are in place to ensure court appearances proceed without delay.
Matlala’s case is expected to resume on January 29, 2026.
The transfer highlights the government’s efforts to address organized crime and corruption.
Matlala’s alleged links to powerful criminal and political networks led to his classification as a high-risk inmate.
The eBongweni Correctional Centre is designed to house dangerous and high-profile prisoners under strict conditions.
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