WATCH | ‘Cat’ Matlala busted with cellphone in prison – moved to C-Max

Matlala

Cape Town – Controversial businessman Vusimusi “CAT” Matlala was caught with a cellphone in his cell at Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria and has been moved to the high-security C-Max section, Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale has revealed.

He confirmed the incident occurred over the weekend, prompting Matlala’s transfer to the C-Max section of the prison, where he is now classified as a high-risk inmate.

“Matlala is at -Max correctional facility because of red classification. He is classified as as high risk but also, secondly, we continue to do searches, especially this type of search that we did… On Sunday morning, we did a supply search and we found a cellphone in his position,” Thobakgale said during an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday.

“At that time, he was in a section called ‘local’ – so that’s basically a section that houses medium to low risks.”
But how was he able to get the cellphone into the cells?

 “Well, we are busy with that investigation and we will, once are are very clear about how it happened, be able to pronounce. But remember, when we find objects like cellphones in places that are high risk, like this one, we hand the object over to the South African police Services and that is what we have done,” Thobakgale said. 

Matlala is being held at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility as he awaits trial on attempted murder charges.

He is now also linked to alleged corruption involving the Police Ministry.

Matlala’s name surfaced after KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claimed ties between Matlala and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Mchunu denies ever meeting Matlala but confirmed he ordered a review of a now-cancelled R360 million SAPS tender awarded to him.

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