Former Street Kid Turns Key Witness in South Africa Police Corruption Probe

Matlala has become a pivotal figure, though his public prominence began only three years ago when his name surfaced in reports of alleged procurement irregularities at a state hospital — despite his claim of no involvement in the tender.

Details of his early life are derived from testimony he gave to Parliament last year.

He was born in 1976, during the era of white-minority rule in South Africa, and grew up in a township east of the capital, Pretoria.

He informed legislators that, for a period, he was raised by a single mother, who later ‘disappeared’ from his life.

“I had to fend for myself; I was, in fact, a street child,” he told lawmakers.

He later reunited with his mother in 2002, shortly before her terminal illness.

After her death, Matlala learned that she had been sexually assaulted, an incident he attributes to the stigma surrounding albinism; myths even suggested that sexual contact with an albino woman could cure disease.

After leaving school, he ventured into an informal enterprise to survive, which resulted in several encounters with law enforcement.

In 2001, he was convicted and incarcerated for possession of stolen property.

Over the ensuing years, he was arrested multiple times on charges ranging from residential burglary and a cash‑in‑transit robbery to assault. He consistently denied involvement, and in many cases the charges were dismissed or he was acquitted.

He explained to the parliamentary committee that his nickname ‘Cat’ derives not from a myth of nine lives but from the size of his family — he has nine children with his wife.

A confrontation materialized in May 2025 when he was arrested and charged with attempted murder — a charge he denies. His wife, similarly accused, also refutes the allegation, though unlike him she has been granted bail.

Subsequently, he faced corruption charges related to alleged improprieties in health services provided to the police. Last month he entered a guilty plea as part of a prosecution agreement, but later withdrew that plea after the arrangement collapsed.

Source link