KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has clarified the withdrawal of his previous statement implicating former Police Minister Bheki Cele in financial dealings with alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.
Mkhwanazi said the retraction follows evidence suggesting the case may have involved mistaken identity.
In October last year, during his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee, Mkhwanazi claimed that Cele maintained regular communication with Matlala and had received money from him. He now says investigators believe that a stranger’s phone number, which carried the Cele clan name Ndosi, was likely confused for Cele’s.
“Cat Matlala deposited money into this account. This man says he was appreciative of the money, was unemployed and wanted more. I didn’t know who this person was that he was donating to. Matlala then asked the man for clarification and, after confirming his identity, deleted all the messages,” Mkhwanazi explained.
Cele has consistently denied receiving any funds from Matlala, despite earlier statements from Matlala himself to the Ad Hoc Committee claiming he had given money to the former minister.
The revised statement reflects ongoing efforts by police and parliamentary oversight committees to ensure accurate evidence is presented in investigations involving high-profile officials.