Pretoria – EFF leader Julius Malema condemned the alleged harassment of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s wife and children during a December 2024 police raid by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Matlala, testifying before Parliament’s ad hoc committee while in remand at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility on Thursday, described how officers broke into his home, forced his family to lie on the floor at gunpoint, and caused lasting psychological trauma.
Mr. Matlala read his wife’s account into the record at #KgosiMampuruII Prison, detailing the trauma of their children (aged 6, 9, and 11) being forced to lie on the floor at gunpoint by the Special Task Force during the raid.https://t.co/m6LwqLsXuA pic.twitter.com/pJZ4dSne9f
— IOL News (@IOL) November 26, 2025
Malema criticised the police for their handling, insisting children should never be exposed to such violence, and suggested more sensitive procedures.
“I wish to send my sympathy to your wife and kids because no-one, even a hardened criminal, must have police coming into their house and making their kids lie on the floor,” Malema said.
Malema: Police Cannot Point Guns at Innocent Children‼️‼️‼️
Timpakgolo @Julius_S_Malema has strongly condemned the conduct of the police during their raid on Cat Matlala’s home, calling their treatment of Matlala’s wife and children “disgraceful and unacceptable.”
He… pic.twitter.com/IDYeo7vCoH
— 🇿🇦 Apostle Dr D Mekgwe🇹🇼 (@ApostleDeza) November 27, 2025
He added: “How do you put a child on the floor and point at them with a firearm? It is uncalled for, even if you’re looking for the most dangerous criminal. That must never be done to children.
“As black people we have inherited trauma and no-one must pass that trauma to our children and no-one must take advantage of our wives. Whatever we do on the streets is between us and the streets.
“Police must understand, wherever they are, that no-one must take advantage of young kids.”
The focus then turned to Matlala’s personal life.
Malema asked about his childhood, and Matlala revealed the hardships he endured after being abandoned by his mother — who was albino and reportedly a victim of rape — leaving him to survive on his own.
He added that when he eventually located her, she was terminally ill.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
