Matekane distances himself from ‘Cat’ Matlala

…PM denies ever meeting South African crime boss

...but confirms his former security aide dealt with Cat

… over Lesotho VIP protection venture

Mohloai Mpesi

PRIME Minister Sam Matekane has emphatically denied any links to controversial South African crime boss Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala after the latter told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that he had been negotiating to provide VIP protection services to the PM in Lesotho.

Basotho National Party (BNP) leader Machesetsa Mofomobe has previously alleged that Mr Matekane and Mr Matlala were business partners.  The Prime Minister’s statement issued yesterday effectively dispels any such notion.

Mr Matekane says he has never met, known or conducted any business with Mr Matlala, nor authorised him or any company associated with him to provide security services on his behalf.

However, the Prime Minister’s Office acknowledged that a former member of Mr Matekane’s private security detail had dealt with Mr Matlala over the establishment of a VIP security company in Lesotho.

It insisted those dealings were undertaken entirely in the former security aide’s private capacity, without Mr Matekane’s knowledge, authority or involvement.

The clarification followed testimony by Mr Matlala before South Africa’s Madlanga Commission in which he said his security company had been registered in Lesotho and that he had been in negotiations to provide security services in the Kingdom.

“I was in negotiations with them to offer security services in Lesotho, same as Presidential protection, but because they have a Prime Minister that side…,” Mr Matlala told the commission.

Mr Matlala’s testimony came in the wake of allegations that he and General Lesetja Senona, provincial head of the Hawks in KwaZulu Natal, had been working together on establishing the security venture in Lesotho to protect Mr Matekane, among other things.

The allegations had been part of the testimony put before the Commission alleging that senior South African police officials had been working in cahoots with criminal cartels.

Mr Matlala indeed confirmed he had worked with General Senona, whom he said had wanted to become involved in the Lesotho venture.

Asked what position General Senona would have occupied in the Lesotho venture, Mr Matlala replied: “He would choose whatever position he wants.”

Mr Matlala nevertheless said the General was never ultimately hired.

“He was not even hired but was considering it. Nothing came of it,” he testified.

He could not recall when the proposed arrangement was supposed to have taken effect but confirmed that the company had been registered in Lesotho.

“The company is registered, yes,” he said.

Matekane responds

Mr Matlala’s testimony prompted a swift response from the Prime Minister’s Office, which sought to draw a firm distinction between the alleged dealings of Mr Matekane’s former security aide and the Prime Minister himself.

“The Prime Minister does not know Mr Matlala, has never met him, and has never engaged in any business transaction or arrangement with him,” the statement said.

“The Office is aware that an individual who had previously served as part of the Prime Minister’s private security detail before his assumption of the office of Prime Minister had engaged with Mr Matlala in his personal capacity regarding the establishment of a VIP security company in Lesotho.”

The Prime Minister’s Office did not identify the former security aide.

It said whatever discussions had occurred between that individual and Mr Matlala had nothing to do with Mr Matekane.

“Any such engagement was undertaken strictly in that individual’s personal capacity and was not undertaken on behalf of, or with the authority or sanction of, the Prime Minister or the Office of the Prime Minister,” it said.

The company itself had also been independently registered by the unnamed former security aide, the statement said.

It said residential addresses appearing in the company’s registration documents belonged to that individual, which it cited as further evidence that the venture was private.

“The Office therefore rejects any suggestion or inference that the establishment of this company constituted a business venture involving the Prime Minister.”

It stressed that there had “never been any agreement, partnership, financial interest, business relationship or other commercial arrangement” between Mr Matekane and Mr Matlala involving VIP protection or any other business.

Who is ‘Cat’ Matlala?

Mr Matlala has emerged as one of South Africa’s major crime lords, accused of infiltrating the higher echelons of the South African. Police Service (SAPS) to aid his criminal activities.

He faces several criminal charges in South Africa, including attempted murder, tender corruption and illegal possession of firearms. He had been under the spotlight over a M360 million tender to provide health services to the SAPS. The tender which was allegedly obtained corruptly has since been cancelled. He has also been linked to cartels that have stolen billions from South African hospitals.

The Madlanga Commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, is investigating allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

It is against this background that Mr Matlala’s testimony about a proposed VIP security operation in Lesotho involving protection of the Prime Minister triggered questions about whether the venture had any connection to Mr Matekane.

The Prime Minister’s Office insists there was none.

Previously, Basotho National Party (BNP) leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe, had accused Mr Matekane of being a business associate of Mr Matlala.

The Prime Minister’s statement dispels that suggestion. It insists he has never met Mr Matlala.

‘PM’s security cannot be outsourced’

Mr Matekane’s office rejected any suggestion that a private company could simply be contracted by the Prime Minister to provide his official protection.

It said the Prime Minister’s security was governed by Lesotho law and provided through authorised state security structures.

“It is not a function that can simply be outsourced to a private entity through an arrangement involving the Prime Minister,” the statement said.

The office said it respected the work of the Madlanga Commission and had no intention of interfering with its proceedings.

But it said Mr Matlala’s testimony risked creating a misleading impression that Mr Matekane had been involved in the proposed venture, making it necessary to publicly clarify his position.

“The Prime Minister has never met Mr Matlala, has never conducted business with him, and has never authorised or participated in the establishment of any private VIP security company in Lesotho,” the statement said.

“Any dealings between Mr Matlala and the individual concerned were private dealings between those parties and cannot, under any circumstances, be attributed to the Prime Minister or the Office of the Prime Minister.”

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