Key figure in South Africa police corruption scandal pleads guilty

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Key figure in South Africa police corruption scandal pleads guiltyImage source, SABCImage caption, The prosecutor said Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala had evidence that could help bring "high-ranking officials" to justiceByPumza Fihlani, Reporting fromJohannesburg and Damian ZanePublished12 minutes agoVusimusi "Cat" Matlala, a central figure in a major ongoing police graft inquiry in South Africa, has pleaded guilty to corruption, fraud and money-laundering charges as part of a deal with state prosecutors. He was accused of bribing top police officials to win a 360m rand ($22m; £16. 5m) tender for his health company Medicare24 in 2024.

The plea deal, which has not yet been accepted by the magistrate, would result in Matlala giving evidence against "high-ranking officials", state advocate Santhos Manilall said. Police chief Gen Fannie Masemola is one of those facing charges in relation to this case. He has denied the charges.

The Details

Manilall told the court in the capital, Pretoria, that it had taken almost two months of negotiations to put the deal together. If accepted, it would result in Matlala, 49, serving eight years in prison. The state's lawyer said that the "sacrifice" of a more lenient sentence would be worth it, as "for the first time we have an accused who has...

given us detail that we would not have been made aware of". As part of the deal, Matlala is required to give honest and frank testimony at future trials. The magistrate at the Pretoria court is expected to give his ruling on the plea deal next week.

Matlala, who is also facing a separate murder charge that he denies, has been named by a witness at the corruption inquiry known as the Madlanga Commission as being part of a drug-trafficking cartel that has managed to penetrate the police. He has not commented on this accusation but, giving evidence at a parallel parliamentary corruption inquiry last year, denied knowing senior police officers and politicians personally. Matlala has yet to appear at the Madlanga Commission.

What Experts Say

Witnesses at that inquiry, which began last September, have alleged collusion between criminal underworld figures and senior police officials. It was set up after senior police officer Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged last July that organised crime groups had infiltrated the government. Related stories:'Gifts' from a lover and 'botched' cocaine raids: Police inquiry grips South Africa Published30 MayAn alleged drug cartel and a murdered witness: South Africa's police corruption probe Published24 December 2025South Africa's police minister accused of links to criminal gangs Published7 July 2025Go to BBCAfrica.

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The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.