Alleged crime boss and tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has rejected claims that he belongs to a drug cartel, though he admitted maintaining a friendship with a man allegedly involved in producing narcotics.
Matlala continued his testimony on Thursday before Parliament’s ad hoc committee at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria.
He is currently facing attempted murder charges for allegedly plotting to kill his former partner, Tebogo Thobejane.
Kidnapping Details Emerge
During the hearing, Matlala recounted events surrounding the kidnapping of businessman Jerry Boshoga in November 2024.
Police had raided Boshoga’s Waterkloof Ridge home on 6 December 2024 as part of the investigation.
Matlala said Boshoga’s brother informed him that Jerry had gone to collect “20 litre drums” in Centurion containing material used to manufacture narcotics.
He testified that Boshoga entered a Mercedes-Benz at the meeting point and “never came back”.
Later that evening, Matlala visited the family home, where Boshoga’s wife said her husband had gone to meet someone who owed him money.
The brother did not tell her the true purpose of the trip.
Matlala told the committee he urged the brother to be honest with the police to help them find Boshoga, whom he described as “a very close friend”.
He said he later learned that Boshoga had still not been found.
Watch the ad hoc committee inquiry below:
Matlala Friendship with Kidnapped Businessman
Matlala admitted he knew Boshoga dealt in drugs but said the businessman never worked for him.
When asked why he remained friends with people linked to narcotics, Matlala said he was “not okay with it, but I wouldn’t judge him”.
He also dismissed suggestions that Boshoga used the R1 million loan he received for cattle farming for drug activities.
He said Boshoga paid him back through his business account.
Evidence leader Norman Arendse noted that a business could still channel drug money, and Matlala agreed.
