The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, currently sitting in Pretoria, has heard explosive testimony about irregular agreements between the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) and companies linked to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Retired EMPD deputy commissioner Revo Spies appeared before the Madlanga Commission, where he unpacked two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed between the police department and Matlala’s companies, Medicare24 and Cat VIP Security. Spies testified that these agreements were unlawful, irregular, and devoid of any legal standing, exposing deep governance failures within the city’s law enforcement leadership.
According to Spies, the MOUs, signed in 2021, gave Matlala’s companies special privileges in exchange for donations to the City of Ekurhuleni — a deal he described as “deeply unethical and legally indefensible.”
Acting EMPD Chief Implicated Before the Madlanga Commission
In his testimony, Spies identified acting EMPD chief Julius Mkhwanazi as the official who signed off on the MOUs, despite lacking the legal authority to do so. This revelation has intensified scrutiny over the department’s internal controls and raised questions about accountability within the city’s administration.
“The problem,” Spies told the Madlanga Commission, “is that these agreements were concluded outside any legitimate procurement framework. They were signed off by someone who did not have the authority — and worse, they granted powers that no private company should ever hold.”
The agreements, he explained, were crafted under the guise of public-private partnerships but effectively allowed private entities to operate with privileges reserved for state law enforcement agencies.
According to evidence presented to the Madlanga Commission, the 2021 MOUs between the EMPD and Matlala’s companies included shocking provisions. In return for donating vehicles to the city, Matlala’s businesses were reportedly granted permissions normally reserved for police and emergency services.
Spies explained that the agreements authorized Medicare24, Matlala’s medical company, to use red emergency lights, and Cat VIP Security, his private security firm, to use blue police lights — effectively giving the companies the appearance and privileges of official law enforcement.
“This would never pass a proper legal review or departmental scrutiny,” Spies said. “Everything about these documents — the wording, the intention, the process — is wrong. It’s as if children drafted them, hoping adults would fix them later.”
Spies’ statement drew audible reactions from attendees at the Madlanga Commission, highlighting just how deeply flawed the agreements were.
The Madlanga Commission also heard that Matlala’s influence extended far beyond Ekurhuleni, with his security company allegedly participating in joint operations with elite law enforcement units such as the Hawks and the Special Task Force.
Spies described one specific operation at OR Tambo International Airport, where Matlala’s security personnel reportedly assisted state law enforcement in a high-risk takedown. This revelation suggested a troubling blurring of lines between public policing and private security operations.
“The fact that a private company, owned by someone facing criminal charges, could operate alongside national police units shows how dangerous and compromised these relationships had become,” Spies warned the Madlanga Commission.
Spies’ testimony before the Madlanga Commission painted a picture of systemic failures in the EMPD’s governance and oversight mechanisms. He suggested that the unlawful agreements reflected a broader culture of impunity and administrative collapse within certain municipal structures.
“These kinds of arrangements don’t happen by accident,” Spies testified. “They happen when there is no accountability, when those in charge believe they can bend the rules without consequence.”
He further argued that the agreements represented not only a breach of municipal policy but also a potential violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), which strictly regulates how municipalities enter into contracts with private entities.
The Madlanga Commission’s ongoing investigation is expected to have far-reaching consequences for both the EMPD and the City of Ekurhuleni. Legal experts believe that if the findings confirm systemic irregularities, criminal charges or disciplinary action could follow against implicated officials.
Spies urged the commission to ensure that accountability measures are implemented swiftly. “This cannot just be another report that gathers dust,” he said. “We must ensure that those who abuse public trust are held accountable.”
The Madlanga Commission, led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established to investigate allegations of corruption, maladministration, and unethical practices in local government institutions across Gauteng.
The testimony delivered before the Madlanga Commission underscores the urgent need for stronger ethical standards and oversight within local law enforcement structures.
Through detailed revelations about irregular MOUs, questionable partnerships, and unauthorized privileges granted to private entities, the inquiry is exposing how blurred lines between public authority and private interest threaten the integrity of policing in South Africa.
As the Madlanga Commission continues its hearings, the nation watches closely — hoping that its findings will pave the way for accountability, transparency, and a renewed commitment to lawful governance in municipalities across the country.
Source- EWN
