Cape Town – The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) has suspended eight of its officials following an internal investigation into the registration of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s security company, Cat Protection and Security.
According to TimesLIVE, the suspensions come after a preliminary probe found “improper conduct, procedural lapses and systemic weaknesses” within the regulator’s registration processes.
The investigation reportedly uncovered failures in document verification and oversight mechanisms that allowed Matlala’s company to be approved despite red flags.
As stated by IOL, PSIRA spokesperson Bonang Kleinbooi confirmed that a full forensic investigation would be launched to determine how the registration was processed.
“The authority has also initiated consequence management processes, including disciplinary and possible criminal actions,” the report quoted Kleinbooi as saying.
PSIRA has since begun reviewing all individual and company registrations linked to persons with criminal records.
The regulator is also revising its code of conduct to ensure that negligence, collusion or omissions by employees carry stricter disciplinary consequences, The Citizen reported.
Matlala, who is currently in custody, faces a series of criminal charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud and money laundering.
His case is linked to the 2023 shooting of actress and former partner Tebogo Thobejane near Sandton.
During his testimony at the Madlanga Commission, Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo alleged that Matlala is part of a criminal cartel known as the “Big Five”, a group allegedly connected to several high-profile fraud cases.
Matlala has previously faced scrutiny over a R360 million contract with the South African Police Service and alleged involvement in the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital corruption case exposed by whistle-blower Babita Deokaran.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
