Attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala sent a “confidential document” to the KwaZulu-Natal directorate for priority crime investigation (Hawks) provincial head Maj-Gen Lesetja Senona, with multiple identity numbers for President Cyril Ramaphosa, a secret witness testified before the Madlanga commission on Tuesday.
The witness, whose identity is withheld from the public for safety reasons, gave evidence about WhatsApp messages between Matlala and Senona and fraud investigator Calvin Rafadi.
The evidence was pinned on phone record analysis of information from Matlala’s phone that was seized when he was arrested on May 14.
The messages showed that on April 13, Matlala sent Senona three documents, including a Bizz Tracers document, containing information relating to what appeared to be multiple identity numbers of the president.
Bizz Tracers is a forensic investigation company owned by Rafadi.
The document with the IDs included recommendations for the destruction of company records at the SA Revenue Service (Sars) and courts of “computer mainframe files encapsulating the above sensitive information” and “close the bank account linked to the identity documents which are in question” except for one ID.
The witness’s evidence was read into the record by evidence leader Adila Hassim. She said it was unclear why Matlala had the document
Ramaphosa might end up appearing before the commission he established as his name and office have also been mentioned in evidence led by Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola.
The secret witness said the messages showed Senona had a close relationship with Matlala and also revealed a “beneficiary relationship” that Senona and his son, Thato, had with Matlala, and discussions about a property purchase.
The messages read on record also showed when Matlala’s R360m tender was cancelled by the SAPS, Senona advised him that a legal route might be his option to fight back.
The testimony of the witness also included Rafadi’s messages with Matlala, which showed Rafadi asked for several financial favours from the accused.
The witness said in analysing the chats, they found Rafadi returned the favours by driving a negative media narrative about the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team to benefit Matlala.
Matlala’s arrest followed an investigation by the team together with Gauteng investigators.
The commission will continue on Thursday.
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