Madlanga Commission: Matlala Questioned Over R4 Million Payment Sent To Late Taxi Boss
A R4 million payment has emerged as a key point of interest at the Madlanga Commission, placing businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and the late taxi boss Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi in the same financial trail.
The commission heard on Tuesday that Matlala had forwarded Maumela’s payment record to Msibi via WhatsApp, despite previously maintaining that the two men knew each other only through him.
Matlala told the commission that Msibi’s connection to Maumela stemmed from the latter’s interest in selling his multimillion-rand Pagani Huayra sports car.
However, evidence presented by evidence leader Advocate Mahlape Sello SC raised questions about the extent of the relationship between Maumela and Msibi, as well as Matlala’s role in their dealings.
Sello confronted Matlala with a WhatsApp message sent from his own cellphone number to Msibi. The message contained proof of a R4 million payment made by Maumela to Agrippa Khoza, with the transaction also linked during testimony to entities identified as Wafra or Wafra Consulting.
Matlala was questioned about why he would send a substantial financial document involving Maumela to Msibi if their relationship was limited.
He said he could not recall the specific circumstances surrounding the exchange but suggested he may have forwarded the payment record as a favour because Maumela did not have Msibi’s contact details.
Matlala denied acting as a financial intermediary between the two men and said he was unaware of any direct financial transactions between them.
The exchange has attracted attention because it appears to place Matlala directly between Maumela and Msibi in a financial communication, potentially contradicting his earlier description of their relationship.
According to Matlala, his relationship with Maumela began after the two met at a Sandton restaurant sometime between 2015 and 2017 through their shared interest in luxury sports cars. Their relationship later developed into business dealings.
Matlala has previously told the commission that Msibi became acquainted with Maumela after expressing an interest in the Pagani Huayra.
The commission has also heard evidence of WhatsApp exchanges between Matlala and Msibi regarding the possible purchase of a private jet.
While Matlala has sought to distance Msibi from his business dealings with Maumela, evidence leaders have continued to test his account against WhatsApp communications, payment records and other financial evidence presented to the commission.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has previously raised allegations involving Matlala and Maumela in connection with a multimillion-rand tender at Tembisa Hospital.