Deputy President Paul Mashatile has once again maintained he does not know alleged Big 5 cartel figure Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Speaking on the side-lines of the Gauteng Investment Conference on Thursday, Mashatile reiterated that he was not in the country at the time of the said meeting with Matlala.
“I don’t know Cat Matlala, in fact, when I heard about the plans to meet with me on 23 December, I was not even in the country. I don’t know what Fannie Nkosi is talking about,” Mashatile told reporters.
Mashatile’s camp has dismissed the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated, calling for evidence to support the claims.
The controversy is reminiscent of previous scandals, including the CR17 debacle, and has sparked concerns about corruption and state capture within the ANC.
The allegations are part of a broader investigation into Matlala’s dealings, including his alleged involvement in securing state tenders and funding ANC events.
Matlala’s connections to senior officials, including Colonel Smangaliso Simelane, have also come under scrutiny.