Mogotsi Accuses KZN Police Commissioner Mkhwanazi Of Secret Meeting With ‘Cat’ Matlala In Durban

North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has accused KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of failing to disclose a private meeting with alleged criminal mastermind Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala in Durban.

Mogotsi made the claims while appearing before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Tuesday. The committee is probing allegations of corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system.

The inquiry follows explosive allegations first raised by Mkhwanazi during a media briefing in July last year. At the time, he accused Mogotsi of acting as a go-between for senior politicians and Matlala in an attempt to interfere with police investigations.

Parliament Hears Claims Of uMhlanga Meeting Between Mkhwanazi And Matlala

In his testimony, Brown told MPs that Matlala had previously spoken about travelling to uMhlanga to meet someone who could “solve his problems”.

“I drove to Durban and followed him to the location in uMhlanga. I did not see the person he met at the time,” Mogotsi said.

He added that after Matlala’s arrest, the alleged mastermind contacted him from prison during Mkhwanazi’s media briefing.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Brown Mogotsi To Appear Before Parliament Ad Hoc Committee Over Police Interference Allegations

“However, after Matlala was arrested, he spoke to me from his prison cell via phone during Mkhwanazi’s briefing. He said, ‘Remember when I went to KZN to meet someone? I went to meet Mkhwanazi.’”

Mogotsi further alleged that Matlala claimed to have given Mkhwanazi “something” — a statement Mogotsi interpreted as a clear reference to money.

When questioned about why he had travelled to Durban, Brown said he had followed Matlala because he suspected the “important person” in question was former police minister Bheki Cele. He said he only later came to believe the individual was Mkhwanazi.

Allegations Over KZN Police Shootout Tactics

Beyond the alleged meeting, Mogotsi criticised operational methods within the South African Police Service in KwaZulu-Natal, claiming suspects in the province rarely survive encounters with police.

“Mkhwanazi’s suspects don’t make it out alive. Everyone knows what happens in KZN,” Mogotsi said.

“We hear reports of people fighting with the police, but the suspects never survive. While I am not saying they should shoot at the police, it is notable that in these shootouts, you rarely hear of a police officer being hit.”

He argued that suspects should be arrested and brought before the courts in order to expose broader criminal networks.

“Suspects must be arrested and appear before a court,” Mogotsi said. “In other provinces, suspects are arrested or caught after escaping. In KZN, they aren’t. When they are killed, we lose the evidence needed to understand where these criminals originate or who is financing their crimes.”

The parliamentary committee continues to hear testimony as it examines claims of corruption and interference within the justice system.