Murder-accused Vusumuzi ‘Cat' Matlala found in possession of a cell phone during a prison raid
It all started when Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi dropped a bombshell, exposing an alleged web of deceit that implicates high-ranking SAPS officials and politicians.
Mkhwanazi says there is evidence linking SAPS officials and politicians to the notorious Vusumuzi 'Cat' Matlala.
The latest development has left many stunned - Vusi Cat Matlala was found with a cell phone in his prison cell during a raid.
Read more | Mzansi rallies behind KZN Police Commissioner, Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi
Matlala is being detained in the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria as he awaits the outcome of the case in which he is accused of attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend Tebogo Thobejane.
Correctional Services national commissioner, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, led an extensive raid and search operation at the facility, including its high-risk C-Max section, on Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday.
This was a follow-up to a surprise search conducted on Sunday, where officials found Matlala with a cell phone in his possession.
Thobakgale revealed the news to Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday July 9, 2025, he confirmed that during the raid Matlala was housed in a 'local' section of the prison that holds 'medium to low-risk individuals,' but has since the raid been transferred to the C-Max section as he's now labelled a 'high-risk' individual.
'Cat Matlala is at the C-Max correctional facility because of a reclassification. He is classified as high risk, also secondly, we continue to do searches especially these types of searches that we did last night. Sunday morning, we did a surprise search, and we found a cell phone in his possession,' he said.
Read more | President Ramaphosa says allegations against Police Minister pose security risk to SA
The device has since been confiscated and handed over to South African Police Services (SAPS) while The Department of Correctional Services investigates how Matlala obtained the device.
Furthermore, while Matlala's name has hogged headlines following the damning allegations KZN police commissioner, Lt-General Mkhwanazi made, Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu has vehemently denied having ties to Matlala as Mkhwanazi mentioned.
The story is still developing, and no arrests have been made thus far.
Since the story emerged South Africans have rallied behind Mkhwanazi and have been vocal on wanting to see the law take its course and hold those incriminated accountable.
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