WhatsApp messages, voice notes and video footage presented before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry have revealed alleged discussions relating to cocaine transactions involving Medicare24 Holdings chief executive Michael van Wyk, attempted murder accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and a third individual whose identity has not been publicly disclosed.
The evidence was presented on Monday after Van Wyk’s scheduled testimony was postponed. His attorney, Sandy du Plessis, informed the commission that he had been admitted to hospital after suffering panic attacks.
To avoid delaying proceedings, the commission allowed evidence leaders to continue presenting evidence that Van Wyk is expected to respond to when he appears before the inquiry.
Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC told the commission that the evidence relates to the alleged involvement of Matlala and Van Wyk in cocaine dealing.
Central to the evidence is a video showing five one kilogram bricks of a substance being weighed. According to Chaskalson, forensic analysis has confirmed that the bricks contained cocaine.
The commission heard that the video was sent to Matlala via WhatsApp by a third party on 6 April 2025 before being forwarded to Van Wyk minutes later.
Evidence presented before the commission suggests that a series of messages, voice notes and telephone calls followed shortly afterwards, with discussions allegedly focusing on pricing and the potential movement of the drugs.
The communications indicate negotiations involving amounts ranging between R250,000 and R350,000, with references made to the quality and purity of the product.
The commission also heard that the third party later attempted to delete the video for all recipients. However, investigators discovered that Matlala had already forwarded the footage to Van Wyk before it was removed.
According to evidence leaders, Van Wyk previously denied in an affidavit submitted to the commission that he had received the video. Investigators have since established that the footage was delivered to his device.
The communications presented to the commission include a series of screenshots, voice notes and call records exchanged between Matlala, Van Wyk, the third party and several other individuals.
Evidence leaders argued that the exchanges demonstrate the urgency with which discussions around the alleged transaction were conducted.
Matlala’s company, Tshwane Medicare24, is linked to a controversial multi-million rand South African Police Service contract and operates as a franchise or subsidiary of Medicare24 Holdings.
The commission is continuing to examine the communications and related evidence as part of its broader investigation. Van Wyk is expected to answer questions regarding the allegations when he appears before the inquiry.
Both the allegations and evidence remain subject to further examination by the commission.
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