By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala told the Madlanga Commission that investigators from the IDAC pressured him to sign a disputed statement under Section 204. They also reportedly sought information on three senior police generals, according to his remarks reported by IOL.
According to testimony before the Madlanga Commission, former deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya allegedly threatened the wife of Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala to stop him revealing information about him. These threats feature in Matlala’s statement, made public on Monday, given under a plea agreement with the IDAC that has since been abandoned, according to the Sunday Times.
🇿🇦 South Africa · Source: TimesLIVE ·
Suspect Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala told the Madlanga commission that a lawyer, "Mr Forbay", had advised him to conceal part of the truth about former SAPS deputy commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, who allegedly threatened to kill his family. According to Matlala, Sibiya also called his wife from a private number to urge her to stay silent, according to IOL.
🇿🇦 South Africa · Source: IOL ·
Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, described as an alleged member of a cartel involved in infiltrating the criminal justice system, is due to testify on 9 and 10 November before the Madlanga commission. Several senior officials are then due to be heard under subpoena, while the final report is to be submitted to Cyril Ramaphosa by 25 January 2027 at the latest, according to TimesLIVE.
🇿🇦 South Africa · Source: TimesLIVE ·
The Madlanga commission authorised its evidence leader to question Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala on the basis of his collapsed plea agreement, rejecting the defence objection. Matlala’s lawyers challenge how the agreement was obtained and announce an application for review, the Sowetan reports.
🇿🇦 South Africa · Source: Sowetan ·
Phahlane trial (R54 million): charges withdrawn against defunct companyFormer acting police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and five co-accused are on trial for fraud and corruption over two contracts for police surveillance software, worth about R54 million. The trial has been postponed to 12 November, while the prosecution amends the indictment after one of the companies ceased to exist, according to the IDAC.
Malawi climbs to 20th place in the Ibrahim governance indexMalawi has risen to 20th place in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, with its score up from about 45.9 in 2016 to 52.9 in 2025, above the continental average of 50.1. The country ranks sixth on accountability and transparency, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, but access to information remains a problem, Nyasa Times reports.The week in Africa
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