Cape Town – Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has told the Madlanga Commission that his relationship with businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela developed from a shared passion for luxury sports cars into a friendship and business partnership.
Matlala said he first met Maumela around 2015 or 2016 at a restaurant in Sandton, where the two regularly crossed paths because of their interest in sports cars.
Under questioning from Advocate Sello, Matlala confirmed that he considered Maumela a friend but also acknowledged that the pair had business dealings.
“I think that I first met Mr Maumela, it would be around 2015, 2016, somewhere around there,” Matlala said.
He said their relationship initially developed because he admired Maumela’s car.
“Both we have passion for sports cars. So there is this restaurant that we both used to frequent… somewhere in Sandton. So we used to meet each other there, and because I like his car, that’s when we started our relationship, because of the love of cars.”
When Sello asked whether it was fair to describe them as friends who shared a passion for sports cars, Matlala agreed.
MADLANGA COMMISSION | Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala says his friendship with Hangwani Maumela began through their shared interest in sports cars and later extended to pooling funds for business ventures. pic.twitter.com/vw0j8ul9aY
— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 25, 2026
“Yes, I do.”
However, Matlala was then asked whether the two had any other relationship, including business dealings that could have resulted in either of them benefiting financially.
Matlala confirmed that they did.
He explained that the two had worked together on requests for quotations (RFQs), although he initially struggled to describe the arrangements as tenders.
“Yes, we used to do that together,” he said.
Asked how they worked together, Matlala described an arrangement in which they would contribute money to purchase goods required for an RFQ and later share the profits.
“If I get an RFQ, and then we’ll have money, then we’ll take that money and purchase. Maybe the RFQ was in my entity, and then we’ll take that money that we put aside and buy whatever is needed, and then we’ll take the money back and then, including profit, put it aside and share the profits.”
Matlala’s testimony comes after he previously raised concerns about self-incrimination before the commission, with his legal team considering whether answering certain questions could potentially expose him as a suspect.
His evidence on his relationship with Maumela is expected to face further scrutiny as the commission continues examining his alleged business and personal connections.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
