Matlala met former police chief Phiyega at her home hours before his arrest, the Madlanga Commission heard.

This was disclosed by Witness C, a detective from Gauteng’s counterintelligence unit, who is testifying partly in-camera before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday.

Hours before his arrest in May, tender tycoon and alleged African National Congress (ANC) funder, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, had visited former National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega at her home in Midrand.

This was revealed by Witness C, a detective attached to Gauteng counterintelligence operations who is testifying partially in-camera before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday.

He claimed that on the day of Matlala’s arrest in May, Matlala had been travelling in a motorcade when his vehicle’s tyre burst.

Witness C alleges that if Matlala’s tyre hadn’t burst, police would not have been able to catch up with his motorcade, as they were travelling at extremely high speeds.

Phiyega was appointed national police commissioner in 2012.

She was suspended in 2015 and in 2017, was officially removed following several allegations of misconduct, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice.

“He said he was there at the former commissioner, Miss Riah Phiyega’s premises. When he left that premises, his motorcade was driving at a very high speed, and unfortunately for him, he hit a pothole, and his Mercedes-Benz came to a standstill on the side of the road.”

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