Key Takeaways:
- Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, has been ordered to be evicted from its upmarket Pretoria offices due to unpaid rent.
- The company was awarded a R360m police tender, which was later cancelled in May.
- Matlala is accused of bankrolling politicians and top cops, and is a central figure in the state’s investigation into allegations of criminal infiltration in the SAPS.
- The court has ordered the immediate ejection of Medicare24 and all persons claiming occupation under it, and has granted Menlyn Maine Towers the right to claim Medicare24’s moveable property and payment of R258,890 in rental arrears with interest.
Introduction to the Case
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has made a significant ruling in a case involving Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, a businessman who has been accused of bankrolling politicians and top cops. Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, was awarded a R360m police tender in 2024, but the tender was later cancelled in May. The company has now been ordered to be evicted from its upmarket Pretoria offices due to unpaid rent. The court’s decision is a significant development in a case that has been marked by allegations of corruption and criminal activity.
The Eviction Order
The eviction order was granted after Menlyn Maine Towers, the owner of the building where Medicare24 is located, took Matlala’s company to court for unpaid rent. The company argued that Matlala owed R258,890 in rental charges, which had not been paid since June 2024. The court heard that Matlala had been experiencing payment flow troubles, but had failed to make any payments towards the rent. The judge, Colleen Collis, ordered the immediate ejection of Medicare24 and all persons claiming occupation under it, and granted Menlyn Maine Towers the right to claim Medicare24’s moveable property and payment of R258,890 in rental arrears with interest.
Background to the Case
Matlala’s company, Medicare24, had a five-year lease with Menlyn Maine Towers, which was due to expire in August 2026. However, the lease was cancelled in July 2025, after Matlala was arrested for attempted murder. The company had also been accused of breaching the lease agreement by housing another company, Cat VIP Protection, in the same offices without consent. The security company had also kept guns at the upmarket offices, which was not permitted under the lease agreement. Matlala has denied any wrongdoing, but the court’s decision suggests that he has failed to meet his obligations as a tenant.
Allegations of Corruption
Matlala has been accused of being part of a cartel that is protected by the police. The Madlanga Commission and parliament’s ad hoc committee have heard testimonies implicating Matlala in allegations of criminal infiltration in the justice cluster. Matlala has denied the allegations, but the evidence suggests that he has had significant dealings with high-ranking police officers and politicians. He has admitted to paying R150,000 for the ANC January 8 celebrations in Cape Town, and has also been accused of paying R1.5m to a businessperson and North West ANC member to assist him with the SAPS tender.
Testimony and Denials
Matlala has testified before parliament’s ad hoc committee, where he denied any wrongdoing. He has also suggested that he is a victim of a clash involving deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, Mkhwanazi, and police crime intelligence boss Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo. However, the evidence against him is significant, and the court’s decision to evict his company from its offices suggests that he has failed to meet his obligations as a tenant. Matlala remains in police custody after he was arrested in May for attempted murder, and it is unclear how the case will proceed from here.
Conclusion
The case involving Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala and his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, is a complex and intriguing one. The allegations of corruption and criminal activity are serious, and the court’s decision to evict the company from its offices suggests that Matlala has failed to meet his obligations as a tenant. The case is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into allegations of criminal infiltration in the SAPS, and it will be interesting to see how it proceeds from here. One thing is certain, however: the case has significant implications for the reputation of the SAPS and the government, and it is essential that the truth is revealed and those responsible are held accountable.