'Gifts' from a lover and 'botched' cocaine raids: Police inquiry grips South Africa

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. 'Gifts' from a lover and 'botched' cocaine raids: Police inquiry grips South AfricaJust now Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleKhanyisile NgcoboJohannesburgGallo Images via Getty ImagesBrig Rachel Matjeng oversaw a tender awarded in 2024 to controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" MatlalaAn investigation into alleged police corruption in South Africa has had the nation captivated - much like the second season of a successful Netflix crime drama. What could be regarded as the first season of this real-life inquiry into allegations made by a senior officer last July - that organised crime groups had infiltrated the police and government - ran from September to December. The revelations included details of an alleged drug cartel and named those at the heart of the alleged corruption.

The "second season" of this inquiry has just wrapped up - with another interim report on the proceedings handed over to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday. Like the first interim report from the Madlanga Commission, it was not made public, though the contents are likely to be fairly explosive - if the public hearings are anything to go by. Before the third and final phase gets under way next month - aka "season three" - here are some eye-catching moments from the last 64 days of hearings that saw 32 witnesses testifying.

The Details

Brazilian butt lift denialIn February, senior police officer Brig Rachel Matjeng appeared before the commission, which is named after retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga who is heading the inquiry. She was there as she had overseen a tender awarded in 2024 to controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's company Medicare24 Tshwane District, which was meant to provide health services to the police. The contract was cancelled a year later and since then a dozen senior police officers, including Matjeng, have been formally charged over their role in awarding the contract.

None of them have yet been asked to plead in court. In her testimony to the commission, Matjeng denied receiving kickbacks from Matlala - and instead alleged that the pair were in an on-off romantic relationship that lasted until his arrest last year and that he had lavished her with gifts. One of these presents were shots of the weight-loss drug Ozempic, which she had asked her "boyfriend" to source for her.

Matjeng said she had not been bribed with a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), as had been alleged online, telling the commission: "So, for me, from my boyfriend , I only ask for Ozempic, unlike those that ask for BBL (sic)". Matlala himself has yet to appear before the commission. He was named in testimony last year from the police crime intelligence boss as one of the main figures in an alleged drug-trafficking and crime cartel, known as the Big Five, that allegedly also carried out contract killings, cross-border hijackings and kidnappings.

Matlala is currently in custody facing 25 criminal charges, among them attempted murder.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.