In his recent appearance in the madlanga commission of inquiry, Businessman and allegedly member of the BIG FIVE Cartel Cat Matlala disclosed the circumstances behind his payments to Brown Mogotsi.

As is already known, and conformed during his previous testimony to the inquiry. The transactions occurred in the aftermath of a December 2024 police raid on Matlala’s residence, during which heavily armed officers seized his mobile phones and firearms.

According to Matlala, Mogotsi initiated contact shortly after the raid, claiming to represent the office of the Minister of Police and offering assistance in navigating the situation.

How did Mogotsi met cat Matlala: The Unsolicited Contact Following the Raid

Matlala recalled that on Friday, 6 December 2024, his home was raided by masked officers carrying rifles. Uncertain whether the intruders were legitimate South African Police Service (SAPS) members or armed robbers, Matlala attempted to open a criminal case at a local police station the following day. While station officials confirmed that his seized firearms had been logged into the SAP 13 property register, Matlala added that they did not register a formal harassment case on his behalf.

Following that two days after the incident, Mogotsi made contact via telephone. During this cold call, Mogotsi claimed he was calling from the police minister's office and offered to assist Matlala in lodging an official complaint regarding police harassment.

Matlala later met Mogotsi in person at a hotel near the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where Mogotsi reiterated his willingness to investigate the raid and made phone calls in Matlala's presence, purporting to reach senior police leadership to resolve the case.

Following this meeting, according to Matlala, his relationship with Mogotsi straightened and Mogotsi started requesting for payment in order to help him: First requested R20,000, claiming the money was required to cover accommodation costs for police investigators brought in to identify the officers involved in the raid. Mogotsi later solicited more funds for the African National Congress (ANC) January 8th Anniversary celebration event. In the same month Matlala Paid subsequently any additional R150,000 for the event expenses as well flight tickets for the associates.

Furthermore he revealed that the money was indeed transferred directly into an account provided by Mogotsi.

Asked by the commission “why he was sending money to a state investigator” he simply replied that he was only following Advice of former Police Minister Bheki Cele.

The role of Minister Bheki Cele

Furthermore, explaining his decision to proceed with the R150,000 payment, Matlala testified that he had sought guidance from former Minister Bheki Cele after being introduced to him via a mutual acquaintance in KwaZulu-Natal.

Upon reviewing Matlala's communications with Mogotsi, Cele advised him to maintain the financial arrangement rather than cut contact. The rationale was to avoid alerting Mogotsi to their suspicions, thereby allowing observers to determine whether Mogotsi was genuinely connected to senior officials or operating an unlawful scheme using the minister's name.

Matlala noted that Mogotsi had claimed to be in communication with then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Cele suggested that continuing the payments might reveal whether Mogotsi was acting on behalf of higher authorities or exploiting the minister's name for financial gain.

Matlala eventually concluded that Mogotsi was impersonating an official from the minister’s office to extract money under false pretences. Although Mogotsi arranged contact with an individual at the Protea Police Station, a formal case was never successfully registered, and Mogotsi's push for Matlala to lodge complaints with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) ultimately stalled.

According to Matlala the relationship ended completely following Matlala’s arrest in 2025. Matlala confirmed to the panel that he no longer maintains any contact or association with Mogotsi.