Mapaballo Borotho
- Controversial businessman Vusi “Cat” Matlala told investigators he lent kidnapped businessman Jerry Boshoga R5 million to buy a drug processing machine.
- Matlala also admitted to having a criminal past and close connections with several high-ranking SAPS officials.
- Boshoga has been missing for over 10 months, with his whereabouts still unknown.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard that controversial businessman Vusi Cat Matlala told the investigating officers that he has been friends with the kidnapped businessman Jerry Boshoga since 2012 and that they have been involved in criminal activities together.
This information was revealed by witness C at the Commission on Friday, 24 October 2025. Witness C further says Matlala told them that he’s being suspected of all the kidnappings happening around Gauteng due to his connections and the fact that he once helped a Pakistani national reunite with his family after he was kidnapped.
He told them all this information at the time when police were investigating two kidnapping cases, that of businessman Jerry Boshoga and Nqobile Dikgale, who both disappeared in Centurion.
The officers visited Matlala’s mansion in Centurion on the 6th of December 2024 in search of Jerry Boshoga, who was unfortunately not found on the premises.
“I requested the cellphone from Mr. Matlala and asked him if he consented to us searching the phone, to which he consented and provided us with his PIN code. As we were about to interview Matlala, my commander informed me that upon his arrival at Mr. Matlala’s bedroom, Mr. Matlala indicated that he wanted to talk to us,” said witness C.
“He informed us that he knows we are at his place looking for Nqobile Dikgale and her child, and the reason for that is because he’s been trying to assist the family to locate the kidnapped individuals, because they know his capabilities.
“We then asked him about his criminal background, and yes, indeed, he told us he was previously arrested for cases ranging from common robberies, house robberies, and cash-in-transit heists, and he indicated that was in the past as he is now a businessman,” witness C told the Commissioners.
Witness C says Matlala told them he did not know where Jerry Boshoga was.
“He informed us that he has been in communication with the Boshoga family, as they also asked for help to locate Mr. Boshoga. He indicated that he doesn’t know the identity of the people suspected to be behind the kidnapping of Jerry Boshoga, but he mentioned that Jerry Boshoga owed people money and that he was in the truck business.
“Matlala further informed us that he himself lent Mr. Boshoga an amount of R5 million as he wanted to buy a machine for processing drugs.”
Witness C states that Matlala further informed him that Boshoga had once told him he had a fallout with his drug business associates and that the associates might want to harm him.
Matlala reiterated to the officers that he had nothing to do with the kidnapping of Boshoga and the family of Dikgale.
Witness C told the Commissioners that he cannot divulge certain names that Cat Matlala gave him, as the investigation is still ongoing. He told the Commissioners that the interview with Matlala was conducted peacefully and is on record.
Boshoga has been missing for over 10 months, with no confirmation of whether he’s still alive.
Matlala’s connections in the SAPS
Witness C says Matlala then started making startling conversations with them, telling the officers that he has close relationships within the SAPS.
“He named the Deputy National Commissioner, General Shadrack Sibiya, General Feroz Khan, General Shiburi, and gave us their private contact details. He further indicated that he is related to General Senola.
“I am of the opinion that he told us this information to maybe startle us that he has connections with high-ranking officials within the SAPS,” said witness C.
The Madlanga Commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa following KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive allegations of political interference within the criminal justice system in South Africa.
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