Ad Hoc Committee member Xola Nqola delivered one of the most blistering cross-examinations of the inquiry as he confronted controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala with a rapid barrage of sharp, calculated questions that left the witness visibly rattled.
Nqola immediately honed in on Matlala’s questionable relationships with police officers, repeatedly challenging him on why uniformed officers were running his personal errands. Matlala ultimately conceded that he had indeed sent a police sergeant to buy batteries for his boat, a revelation that raised eyebrows across the room.
From there, the pressure intensified. Nqola confronted Matlala with alleged fronting, inconsistencies in his statements about tender processes, and a series of suspicious WhatsApp conversations that appeared to contain coded language. Matlala admitted he had only seen the WhatsApp bundle the night before, but struggled to explain the unusual terminology and the context of the exchanges.
As the questioning escalated, Matlala appeared increasingly unsettled. Nqola pressed him on his ties to senior police figures, including individuals alleged to have influence over SAPS tender processes. He also challenged him on accusations of associations with criminal networks, placing particular emphasis on claims involving drug cartels and the so-called “big five” operating in Gauteng.
The committee room grew tense as Nqola interrogated Matlala on payments made to various intermediaries, investigators and politically connected individuals. Matlala insisted that the payments were for accommodation and legitimate assistance, but Nqola pushed him hard on why these transactions appeared irregular and whether they were intended to influence outcomes within law enforcement and government structures.
Throughout the exchange, Nqola exposed major contradictions in Matlala’s testimony, forcing him into several damaging concessions that contradicted earlier statements made under oath. By the end of the session, the atmosphere was electric as MPs and observers recognised that Nqola’s line of questioning had fundamentally weakened Matlala’s narrative.
The dramatic exchange marks one of the most consequential moments of the hearings so far, raising fresh questions about corruption networks, police relationships and the integrity of high-value tenders. With more witnesses still expected, the pressure on the inquiry continues to mount.