Matlala Testifies Before Parliament, Citing Memory Loss After Solitary Confinement

Controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that months spent in solitary confinement have severely affected his memory, making it difficult for him to recall key events related to a police raid on his Pretoria home. Matlala, who is currently detained at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre while awaiting trial for attempted murder, appeared before the committee to give evidence in an inquiry examining allegations of police corruption within the facility.

During the session, evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse questioned Matlala about a raid conducted by police at his Pretoria residence, during which firearms and other items were seized. However, Matlala struggled to provide clear timelines, repeatedly stating that he could not remember key dates or specific details surrounding the incident.

Responding to Arendse’s questions, Matlala explained that the mental strain and isolation of solitary confinement had significantly impacted his ability to recall events accurately. He reiterated that he forgets many things and often relies on documents shown to him shortly before hearings to piece together his version of events.

“The dates I just remembered now when they showed me the documents yesterday,” Matlala told the committee. “Like I’m saying, a lot of things, I forget them. I’m in solitary confinement. I forget a lot of things.”

His testimony drew mixed reactions from members of the committee, some of whom questioned whether his claimed memory lapses were genuine or an attempt to avoid providing potentially incriminating details.

Matlala Claims Former Minister Bheki Cele Helped Retrieve His Firearms

As the inquiry continued, Advocate Arendse pressed Matlala for clarity regarding the return of his confiscated firearms. In response, Matlala made a startling claim: he said that it was former Police Minister Bheki Cele who assisted him in retrieving the firearms from police custody.

However, Matlala admitted that he could not recall when this occurred. He maintained that due to his prolonged solitary confinement, dates and sequences of events had become blurred in his memory.

According to his testimony, he only recently remembered some of the dates because they were shown to him in documents presented ahead of his appearance before the committee. This, he argued, was not intentional forgetfulness but rather a consequence of the psychological impact of isolation.

The claim involving Cele is likely to attract further scrutiny as the committee continues its investigation into alleged corruption involving high-ranking officials, including allegations of improper interference in criminal processes.

Matlala is one of the key figures testifying before the parliamentary ad hoc committee tasked with uncovering corruption, misconduct, and abuse of power within the police service and correctional system, particularly at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. The inquiry aims to determine whether officials facilitated preferential treatment for certain inmates, interfered with police investigations, or engaged in illicit dealings with detainees.

His detention stems from an attempted murder charge, and the businessman has remained in custody while awaiting trial. His claim of memory loss has raised questions about the conditions in which detainees are kept and whether those conditions compromise their mental health or ability to participate meaningfully in legal proceedings.

The committee has previously heard allegations of manipulation of evidence, wrongful seizures, and improper relationships between inmates and officials. Matlala’s testimony, especially regarding the retrieval of his firearms, adds another layer to the ongoing probe.

Members of the committee pressed him to provide clearer details, but Matlala repeatedly insisted that solitary confinement had erased much of his recollection. “I forget a lot of things,” he said again, emphasising that many memories only resurfaced when prompted by documents.

The parliamentary ad hoc committee will continue to question witnesses and gather evidence before compiling its final report. Matlala is expected to be called back for further questioning as investigators attempt to verify his claims and establish the full sequence of events surrounding the police raid at his Pretoria home.

For now, his testimony has raised important questions—not only about allegations of corruption and political interference but also about the impact of prolonged solitary confinement on detainees. Whether Matlala’s memory issues are a genuine consequence of isolation or a strategic defence will likely remain a focal point as the hearings progress.

As the inquiry continues, the name Matlala will remain central to discussions around accountability, transparency, and reform within South Africa’s policing and correctional systems.

Source- EWN