Bheki Cele stayed in luxury suite owned by dodgy tender mogul 'Cat' Matlala

Former Police Minister Bheki Cele is now implicated in the police corruption scandal involving Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Cele stayed in a luxury penthouse suite owned by controversial businessman Matlala just days before Matlala’s company was awarded a R360 million SAPS health services tender. The stay took place in January at The Capital Menlyn Maine, a hotel in Pretoria.

The penthouse is one of the city’s most exclusive accommodations, complete with private lift access, round-the-clock concierge service, and sweeping skyline views. Matlala personally arranged the stay, and Cele was confirmed as the guest.

The visit was not logged through official SAPS or government channels, and there is no record of state funds being used.

Only a week after Cele stepped down as Police Minister, SAPS confirmed that Matlala’s company had been granted a R360 million contract. The deal had been under evaluation during Cele’s time in office, sparking concerns about conflicts of interest and potential behind-the-scenes influence.

Matlala, who is facing attempted murder charges, has been linked to multiple corruption investigations and is now at the centre of a growing scandal shaking South Africa’s law enforcement institutions. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has made serious claims against Matlala and several senior figures within SAPS.

Speaking publicly last weekend, Mkhwanazi accused Matlala of “buying influence” within the police through gifts, cash, and political favours.

He also said Matlala has built close relationships with current Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and senior police official Shadrack Sibiya — both of whom, Mkhwanazi alleges, played roles in shielding Matlala and shutting down investigations that were closing in on powerful individuals.

One of Mkhwanazi’s most alarming claims is that a police task team investigating political assassinations and corruption was disbanded under direct political instruction.

According to him, the task team had already obtained arrest warrants in major cases — but those warrants were never signed. Mkhwanazi also revealed that the now-defunct task team had uncovered major links between senior SAPS members and international drug trafficking syndicates.

The drugs were being smuggled with assistance from corrupt police insiders who manipulated customs systems, delayed inspections, and cleared containers without proper checks. Mkhwanazi said the entire network was coordinated from Gauteng and may have been active for years.

According to intelligence reports cited by Mkhwanazi, Matlala’s name appeared in several investigations connected to port corruption, illegal weapons, and the movement of high-value contraband across provincial borders.

While Cele has not responded publicly to the revelations, his personal stay in Matlala’s penthouse is now under the spotlight. Although he no longer holds the Police Minister position, Cele remains influential within ANC circles and among senior law enforcement figures.

The nature of their relationship is now a key focus of internal investigations and growing public interest. Matlala’s name made headlines earlier this year when over 40 firearms registered to his private security company, CAT VIP Protection, were found at the Durban mansion of businesswoman Sean MaMkhize.

The weapons were discovered during a SARS raid connected to a tax evasion case. None of the guns were licensed to be stored at the property, and their presence raised alarm bells within SAPS and among firearm regulators.

The raid came shortly after an attempt on the life of Coreth Naudè, the SARS attorney handling MaMkhize’s case.

Naudè survived, but no arrests have been made in the attempted hit. As the allegations pile up, pressure is mounting on President Cyril Ramaphosa to act.

With both his former Police Minister (Cele) and current Minister (Mchunu) now linked to a figure accused of deep ties to organised crime, public confidence in the integrity of SAPS is rapidly eroding.