A senior South African police officer has denied receiving kickbacks from a controversial businessman, but claimed they had a secret romantic relationship, according to an ongoing police corruption inquiry. Brigadier Rachel Matjeng made the claims during her testimony to the Madlanga Commission, an investigation into alleged police corruption in South Africa. Matjeng's testimony is a key focus of the inquiry, which has been examining the award of a contract to provide health services to the police to a company owned by Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala.

The commission is probing allegations made by a senior officer last July that organised crime groups had infiltrated the police and government. They're looking into the award of a contract to provide health services to the police to a company owned by controversial businessman Matlala. The contract was cancelled after a year, and Matjeng is among a dozen senior police officers who have been formally charged over their role in awarding the contract.

Matjeng testified that she had known Matlala since 2022 and that they had an on-off romantic relationship until his arrest last year. She claimed that Matlala had lavished her with gifts, including shots of the weight-loss drug Ozempic, which she had asked him to source for her. Matjeng denied that she had received kickbacks from Matlala, saying, 'So, for me, from my boyfriend [Matlala], I only ask for Ozempic, unlike those that ask for BBL'.

It's worth noting that Matjeng's testimony is the latest development in the ongoing corruption inquiry, which has already uncovered several explosive details. Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the leader of the inquiry, said in a statement that the investigation is ongoing and they are looking into several areas of alleged corruption.

The inquiry has been examining several areas of alleged corruption, including the handling of two major drug operations that occurred just a month apart in 2021. In the first operation, police intercepted 541kg of cocaine, hidden in a shipping container carrying animal bone meal, worth more than 200 million rand. This is the largest seizure of cocaine in South African history, and it was made in June 2021 in Durban.

Five months later, the confiscated drugs were stolen from a poorly secured building owned by the police's elite unit, the Hawks. The theft was carried out in a series of missteps by officers, including a failure to collect DNA or fingerprint samples from the scene. This allowed the thieves to remain anonymous and the police were unable to investigate.

Maj-Gen Hendrik Flynn, a senior Hawks official, detailed to the inquiry a series of missteps by officers in the lead-up to the theft. These missteps included a lack of security at the building and a failure to follow standard procedures. Flynn testified that the stolen drugs were worth more than 200 million rand, and it's estimated that the thieves were able to sell them for a significant profit.

Another senior Hawks official, Lt Col Nkoana Sebola, told the commission that circumstances around the second seizure were also suspicious. Sebola said he believed the first officers on the scene were carrying out a heist as they were working outside their jurisdiction. The police had seized 700kg of cocaine worth an estimated $17.3 million from a warehouse in an industrial suburb in southern Johannesburg in July 2021. However, the investigation into the seizure was hampered by the fact that the police did not gather enough evidence to identify the culprits.

The inquiry has also been examining the role of Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, who has been accused of being a key figure in an alleged drug-trafficking and crime cartel. Matlala has denied all the charges against him, including attempted murder. He is currently in custody facing 25 criminal charges.

The Madlanga Commission is a major inquiry into alleged police corruption in South Africa. The commission was set up in response to allegations made by a senior officer last July, and it is led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. The commission has been holding public hearings since September last year and has already uncovered several explosive details.

These details include the award of a tender to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a company owned by Matlala, in 2024. The contract was worth millions of rand and was meant to provide health services to the police. However, it was cancelled after a year, and Matjeng and 11 other senior police officers were formally charged over their role in awarding the contract.

Key Facts: ###

  • 541kg of cocaine worth more than 200 million rand was intercepted in a shipment from Durban in June 2021.
  • The confiscated drugs were stolen from a poorly secured building owned by the police's elite unit, the Hawks, five months later.
  • Maj-Gen Hendrik Flynn, a senior Hawks official, testified that a series of missteps by officers led to the theft of the drugs.
  • Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the leader of the inquiry, called one of the officers at the scene of a cocaine seizure 'clueless'.
  • Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, the owner of Medicare24 Tshwane District, has been accused of being a key figure in an alleged drug-trafficking and crime cartel.
  • Matlala has denied all the charges against him, including attempted murder.
  • He is currently in custody facing 25 criminal charges.

The Madlanga Commission is expected to continue this month, and the inquiry is likely to be a major focus of attention.