A R4 million payment has pulled Hangwani Morgan Maumela, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and the late taxi boss, Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi into the same financial spotlight, after WhatsApp evidence showed Matlala forwarding Maumela’s payment record to Msibi.
Matlala told the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday that Msibi and Maumela knew each other only through him, saying their relationship never went beyond Msibi’s interest in buying Maumela’s multimillion-rand Pagani Huayra sports car.
“Msibi knew Maumela because of me,” he said.
But WhatsApp evidence placed before the commission raised fresh questions about how closely the two men were connected and Matlala’s role in their dealings.
Evidence leader, Advocate Mahlape Sello SC, confronted Matlala with a WhatsApp message sent from his own number to Msibi.
Attached to the message was a proof of payment reflecting R4 million paid by Maumela to Agrippa Khoza, with the transaction also linked in the testimony to entities identified as Wafra or Wafra Consulting.
Matlala was pressed on why he was forwarding a substantial financial document involving Maumela to Msibi if the two men had only a limited relationship.
He answered that he could not remember the precise context of the exchange.
Matlala said he may have been passing the proof of payment to Msibi as a favour because Maumela did not have Msibi’s contact details.
“Maumela never had Msibi’s number. So, I forwarded it because I am the one who had Msibi’s number,” Matlala said.
He denied acting as a financial intermediary between the two men and said he was unaware of any direct money transfers between them.
“I do not know what that payment was for because I did not know that they had a relationship,” Matlala said.
The exchange has become significant because it appears to place Matlala directly between Msibi and Maumela in a financial communication, despite his insistence that their relationship was limited.
According to his testimony, the connection arose after Maumela wanted to sell his Pagani Huayra and Msibi was interested in arranging a buyer.
His relationship with Maumela, however, went considerably further than the car transaction.
Matlala has previously testified that they met at a Sandton restaurant between 2015 and 2017 through their shared interest in luxury sports cars before becoming involved in business ventures.
The commission has also heard evidence of WhatsApp communications between Matlala and Msibi concerning the possible purchase of a private jet.
Matlala has sought to distance Msibi from his business dealings with Maumela, while evidence leaders have tested his account against WhatsApp chats, payment records and other financial evidence.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has previously flagged Matlala and Maumela in connection with allegations surrounding a multimillion-rand tender at Tembisa Hospital.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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