The Ad Hoc Committee erupted into one of its most dramatic confrontations yet when Dereleen Elana James delivered a forensic, unrelenting and emotionally charged interrogation of controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Her questioning forced him onto the defensive in a session that stunned members of Parliament and viewers across the country.
James arrived armed with documents, SAPS records and her own verification from Brooklyn Police Station. She opened by challenging Matlala’s claims that police seized and failed to return a long list of firearms, watches and luxury items from his property. She revealed that official SAPS registers tell a very different story.
“You only took one item out of SAP 13,” James said, referring to the firearm register that shows a single Beretta pistol was collected and not the dozens Matlala claimed.
Matlala insisted she was lying. James snapped back, “You are worth me raising my voice to,” prompting the chairperson to intervene as tensions escalated.
James Exposes Contradictions in Matlala’s Firearm Story
James dismantled Matlala’s narrative around firearm seizures and firearm ownership. She noted that:
• SAPS records show only one pistol was released
• A woman actually signed for items on 31 December, not Matlala
• He filed a High Court application claiming firearms that he now says were company owned
Matlala denied the inconsistencies, but the documentary evidence made his position increasingly difficult to defend.
Testing His Denials of Criminal Links
James confronted Matlala on his denials that he has links to gangs, drug cartels or organised crime networks.
“Is that what you want us to believe today” she asked.
When Matlala repeated his denial, James moved to his close friendship with Jerry, a man she described as a drug dealer.
“You refer to Jerry as a close friend. Did you ever tell his mother that he was a drug dealer” she pressed.
Matlala admitted he had not.
James pushed further and asked whether Jerry’s mother deserved to know the truth about her son.
The R14 Million Drug Allegation Shock
James delivered one of the most explosive claims heard in the committee to date. She said witnesses had linked Matlala and General Sibiya to the disappearance of R14 million worth of drugs taken from a forensic laboratory.
Matlala replied that it was the first time he heard of the allegation. James noted that the committee had been receiving evidence pointing in that direction and that the issue could not be ignored.
Bribery, Cash Drops and Favouritism in SAPS
James questioned Matlala about several payments allegedly made to senior SAPS officials, including R80 000 payments, R200 000 payments left in bins and R500 000 payments allegedly intended for Crime Intelligence officers.
Matlala denied the transactions but James reminded him that he had already admitted giving former Minister Bheki Cele large sums of money.
“Why should we believe you when you have admitted bribing a former police minister” she asked.
James also challenged him on his elite security team, which includes special forces and task force members. She questioned how he sustained such a lifestyle on the business income he described to the committee.
Kidnapping and Missing Persons Allegations
James confronted Matlala on the disappearance of his friend Jerry. She asked whether he believed Jerry was still alive. Matlala said he did not believe so because it would be too costly for the abductors to keep him alive.
James asked whether he had demanded ransom money from Jerry’s father-in-law. Matlala denied the accusation.
James’s Final Blow
James closed her interrogation with a powerful statement.
“You are not a businessman. You are a criminal involved in the destruction of our communities.”
She accused Matlala of capturing SAPS, manipulating business structures, using political connections, benefiting from corrupt networks and misleading the committee about his true activities.
Matlala ended the exchange with a quiet “I am done,” leaving the room in stunned silence.
A Landmark Moment in the Inquiry
Dereleen Elana James delivered one of the most formidable performances of the entire inquiry. Her mix of preparation, emotional intelligence, documentary evidence and rapid questioning exposed major weaknesses in Matlala’s testimony and forced the committee to confront new layers of evidence.
The Ad Hoc Committee continues its work under intense national scrutiny.