‘Matlala Was Used to Discredit Me’: KZN Top Cop Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Hits Back at Explosive Claims
Viable News Team 
CAPE TOWN, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has fired back at allegations linking him to controversial figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, insisting that the convicted criminal was strategically used to tarnish his name and undermine his credibility.
Mkhwanazi returned to Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, facing pointed questions stemming from testimony delivered by several witnesses including Matlala himself during the ongoing inquiry into corruption, sabotage, and political interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The Commissioner, known for his outspoken stance against internal corruption, argued that Matlala’s claims were part of a broader attempt to discredit him amid his efforts to confront criminal infiltration within SAPS.
A Secret Meeting Revealed But Not by Him
During earlier testimony, Matlala informed the committee that he and Mkhwanazi met in Durban last year. The revelation raised questions about why the provincial police chief had not previously disclosed the encounter.
Mkhwanazi admitted on Wednesday that he indeed met Matlala who has been implicated in multiple violent crimes and is regarded as a key figure in organized criminal networks but emphasized that the meeting happened under confidential circumstances.
“I did not disclose the meeting,” he told the committee.
“And I’m glad he is the one who introduced the meeting because the people he spoke about are subject to investigation. I did not want to disclose it because I had made a commitment that I would not reveal any meeting he provided me as an informer.”
His remarks suggest that Matlala, despite his criminal associations, had at some stage provided intelligence to authorities an admission that adds yet another twist to the unfolding saga.
Committee Revisits Explosive Allegations
Mkhwanazi was the first witness when the Ad Hoc Committee began its work last year. His bombshell July 2025 press conference where he publicly exposed political interference, threats to whistle-blowers, and internal sabotage forced Parliament to initiate formal inquiries. That moment also paved the way for the Madlanga Commission, which has since unearthed troubling details about the levels of criminal infiltration in policing structures.
The Commissioner’s testimony this week attempted to clarify several inconsistencies raised through witness reports, including:
- the nature of his interactions with Matlala
- allegations suggesting that he may have been influenced or compromised
- claims that he knew of or participated in efforts to manipulate police operations in KwaZulu-Natal
Mkhwanazi dismissed the narratives circulating around him, stating firmly that Matlala’s testimony was “weaponised” to undermine his credibility at a time when he is leading the charge against corruption within the province’s law enforcement.
A System Under Siege
The Ad Hoc Committee has spent months hearing from a range of witnesses, many of whom described deep-rooted corruption, rogue units, and the collapse of internal integrity systems within the SAPS.
Among the allegations heard so far:
- the controversial disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal
- claims of police officers providing firearms and intelligence to hitmen
- interference by politicians in operational policing
- widespread sabotage of anti-corruption efforts
Mkhwanazi, through his testimony, has positioned himself as both a whistle-blower and a target, arguing that criminal elements inside and outside SAPS are determined to silence him.
Who Is ‘Cat’ Matlala?
Matlala, who testified earlier, is a figure whose name has repeatedly surfaced in cases involving:
- extortion
- violent organised crime
- illegal “blue light brigade” operations
- allegations of hiring ex-police task force members for illegal protection activities
His testimony linking him to Mkhwanazi raised eyebrows, prompting speculation about whether the KZN police chief may have crossed boundaries in managing informants.
However, Mkhwanazi insists that any engagement he had with Matlala was purely in the realm of intelligence-gathering nothing more, nothing compromised.
A Battle for Credibility
Observers believe the latest revelations highlight the turbulent battle within SAPS between factions seeking to expose corruption and those seeking to maintain long-standing criminal networks.
For many, Mkhwanazi’s appearance before the committee underscores the precarious position of police leadership in KwaZulu-Natal, a province long plagued by political killings and organised criminal activity.
The Commissioner continues to receive strong public support for his no-nonsense approach to corruption. His contract as provincial police commissioner has even been renewed for another five years a testament, some say to his resilience in confronting a system rife with internal decay.
A System Fighting Itself
As the parliamentary inquiry continues, one thing has become clear: South Africa’s policing crisis is deeper and more complex than previously imagined. Testimony from Mkhwanazi and others exposes a system where criminals, politicians, and rogue cops collide in deadly and destabilising ways.
For now, the Ad Hoc Committee will continue to unravel layers of evidence, contradictions, and accusations. And as Mkhwanazi’s compelling return demonstrates, the fight to restore integrity in the police service is far from over.
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