‘I knew him as loving and humble’: senior SAPS officer defends relationship with Cat Matlala

Rachel Matjeng

Brigadier Rachel Matjeng has painted a vastly different picture of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala from the one currently dominating public discourse, describing him as a romantic, respectful partner who supported her financially out of affection, not influence.

Testifying on Thursday at the Madlanga commission of inquiry in Pretoria, the senior South African Police Service officer told the commission she never witnessed the “evil side” now associated with Matlala.

“I know him as a humble, respectful, and romantic person, and I had never experienced the evil side that is being portrayed currently,” she said.

Matjeng, who heads quality management for criminal records and crime scene management within SAPS forensic services, said she met Matlala in 2017 after a colleague shared her photo on WhatsApp.

He expressed interest and asked for her contact details. “She told me a guy called Cat wanted my number and was asking for my contact. After I asked for more information, I gave permission,” she explained.

The two began communicating and eventually entered into a relationship that was not always consistent. According to Matjeng, they would sometimes go long periods without contact.

“We started talking and ended up having a romantic relationship. Sometimes we would go a year without talking to each other,” she testified.

She confirmed that the relationship was still ongoing before Matlala’s arrest, with Commissioner Sandile Khumalo remarking that the arrest did not end the relationship but merely disrupted it.

Matjeng agreed, adding that she now assumes it has come to an end.

During her testimony, Matjeng addressed concerns around gifts and money she received from Matlala, stressing that these were personal and had nothing to do with her professional role.

“I never borrowed money from him. What I received were gifts and money from a boyfriend since 2017,” she said.

She firmly denied any suggestion that the financial support was linked to the awarding of the Medicare24 Tshwane contract.

“None of the monies that I received from him were related to me influencing the awarding of the tender,” Matjeng told the commission.

Matjeng said she took steps to avoid a conflict of interest after realising her work responsibilities overlapped with a company linked to Matlala.

She informed her supervisor, Major-General Manamela, and even offered to step aside. “I told my supervisor that I knew Mr Matlala and explained the nature of our relationship. I asked if I should recuse myself,” she said.

However, she was advised that the matter fell squarely within her duties and could not be delegated.

“He indicated that the facilitation of medical surveillance is solely the responsibility of the environmental compliance officer and that I still needed to address any challenges professionally,” she testified.

She further told the commission that she was not involved in the procurement process and did not know which companies submitted bids.

“I was not aware of the service provider that submitted the bids for the tender,” she said.

Matjeng also revealed that Matlala once asked to send money to a different bank account, allegedly to avoid his wife finding out.

“He said he did not want his wife to know because she only knew me as a friend,” she testified, adding that she then suggested using the account of a friend who owns a butchery.

Addressing Matlala’s past, Matjeng said that to her knowledge, he had no criminal record during the time they were involved.

“Since our relationship, to my knowledge, he was never convicted or arrested for any criminal offence, except for an old case that was before our relationship,” she said.