Key facts
- Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala, a key figure in a South African police corruption inquiry, has withdrawn from a plea deal.
- Matlala was accused of bribing top police officials to win a 360m rand tender for his health company Medicare24.
- He had pleaded guilty last month in exchange for a reduced eight-year prison term and the opportunity to testify against senior officials.
- A magistrate recommended a 12-year sentence, deeming the initial agreement a miscarriage of justice.
- Matlala's legal team informed the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court of his withdrawal from the deal.
- Prosecutors will now be unable to use evidence from Matlala's affidavit, which reportedly implicated high-ranking police officials.
Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala, a central figure in an ongoing police corruption inquiry in South Africa, has withdrawn from a controversial plea deal, dealing a blow to prosecutors. Matlala, a business tycoon, pulled out of the agreement after a South African court recommended a higher jail sentence of 12 years, instead of the initially agreed eight.
Matlala was accused of bribing top police officials to secure a 360m rand ($22m; £16.5m) tender for his health company Medicare24 in 2024. He had pleaded guilty last month as part of a deal that would have seen him turn state witness, providing key evidence against senior officials, including police chief Gen Fannie Masemola, who denies all charges.
The state, represented by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), expressed disappointment but maintained it has a strong case. NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago stated that prosecutors will now be unable to use evidence from Matlala's affidavit, which reportedly implicated high-ranking police officials.
The initial plea deal had faced criticism, with the Democratic Alliance calling it a "betrayal of accountability." The corruption case is scheduled to return to court on September 11, where Matlala is expected to be reinstated as suspect number one.
Matlala has denied knowing senior police officers and politicians personally, despite allegations of collusion between criminal underworld figures and senior police officials at a parallel parliamentary inquiry. This inquiry was established after a senior police officer alleged that organised crime groups had infiltrated the government.