Fresh revelations at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry have cast further scrutiny on alleged underworld figure Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala after South African police confirmed that a police clearance certificate submitted in his name was not authentic.
The issue emerged during testimony from suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, who appeared before the commission on Wednesday.
Questions Raised Over Peace Officer Registration Plan
The disputed document was reportedly used as part of an effort to register Matlala and others as EMPD peace officers.
Evidence previously submitted to the commission included WhatsApp conversations from 2021 in which Medicare24 chief executive Mike van Wyk forwarded Matlala’s police clearance certificate to Mkhwanazi.
At the time, possession of a valid police clearance certificate was a compulsory requirement for anyone seeking official appointment as an EMPD peace officer.
Had the applications been successful, Matlala and security personnel linked to Van Wyk’s companies could have gained access to privileges associated with municipal law enforcement operations, including the use of blue-light authority and other policing-related powers.
SAPS Investigation Uncovers Major Irregularities
A forensic examination conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) found multiple flaws in the certificate that immediately raised concerns about its legitimacy.
According to investigators, every authentic police clearance certificate carries a unique inquiry number and transaction number that are permanently linked within the SAPS database.
In Matlala’s case, those identifiers failed to match.
Police specialists informed the commission that the numbers appearing on the document could not be reconciled with a legitimate certificate issued by SAPS.
Database Records Contradict Certificate Details
The forensic report revealed that the transaction number displayed on the document was genuine but had actually been assigned to a completely different individual whose certificate was issued on August 19, 2021.
Investigators also discovered that the inquiry number appearing on Matlala’s certificate did not exist anywhere within SAPS records.
These findings led authorities to conclude that no official request had ever been processed for a police clearance certificate in Matlala’s name and that the document was never generated through the police system.
Signature Found to Be Forged
Beyond the numbering discrepancies, investigators identified another significant problem.
The signature appearing on the certificate was determined to be a forgery.
While the imitation closely resembled that of the authorised SAPS official, forensic analysis found it was not genuine.
The combination of the forged signature and invalid system records ultimately convinced investigators that the certificate was fraudulent.
Mkhwanazi Says He Had No Reason to Suspect Fraud
During his testimony, Mkhwanazi defended his handling of the matter, insisting he had no way of knowing the document was fake when it was presented to him.
He told the commission that he lacked experience with police clearance certificates and therefore could not recognise any irregularities.
According to Mkhwanazi, the broader initiative aimed to recruit experienced private security personnel to assist EMPD operations during busy periods.
Volunteer Officers Intended for Traffic and School Duties
Mkhwanazi explained that the proposed peace officers were expected to support municipal authorities with traffic control during peak hours and assist with scholar patrol programmes.
He argued the arrangement would have helped the department expand its operational capacity without incurring additional overtime costs for permanent staff members.
The plan relied on volunteers from established private security firms rather than salaried EMPD officers.
Request for Branded Appointment Cards Rejected
The inquiry also heard that Van Wyk sought appointment cards featuring both the EMPD logo and his company’s branding.
Mkhwanazi testified that such cards were never approved or produced.
He maintained that EMPD did not issue appointment cards in the format requested and insisted the proposal never progressed beyond discussions.
As the commission continues its work, the discovery of the fraudulent clearance certificate is expected to raise further questions about the vetting processes surrounding the proposed peace officer initiative and the individuals involved.
