MP and former senior prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach delivered one of the most electrifying cross-examinations witnessed in Parliament this year, leaving controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala visibly shaken during the Ad Hoc Committee hearings.
Breytenbach, known for her sharp legal instincts and uncompromising interrogation style, tore through Matlala’s testimony with surgical precision. She confronted him over his long and complicated history with the police, including a string of past arrests, withdrawn charges and the single conviction that still shadows his record.
She challenged him on his unusual relationships with high-ranking police officials, his easy access to senior officers and the extraordinary privileges he allegedly enjoyed within the policing environment.
As the questioning intensified, Matlala struggled to provide coherent explanations. Breytenbach pushed him on the contradictions in his statements, his ability to obtain firearm licences despite a checkered past, the nature of his security tenders and the large sums of money that appeared to flow between him and police or political figures.
The pressure mounted when Breytenbach accused Matlala directly of corruption, fronting and bribery, rejecting his repeated claims that the payments were nothing more than “favors.” Matlala admitted that he had handed over significant amounts of money to senior police officials and individuals linked to political structures, but insisted they were not bribes.
The tension in the chamber peaked during Breytenbach’s dramatic closing statement. Looking directly at Matlala, she declared that he is “not a businessman” but “a crook, a thief, a fraud and corrupt.” She accused him of benefiting from the suffering of South Africa’s poorest communities and of hiding behind the image of a legitimate businessman while operating in the shadows.
The room fell silent as Matlala, visibly unsettled, offered no comment in response.
The confrontation marks one of the most explosive moments of the inquiry so far, raising new questions about Matlala’s dealings, the integrity of tender processes and the reach of corruption networks within law enforcement. The Ad Hoc Committee hearings continue, with South Africans watching closely as more revelations emerge.