Developing story: the claims below are Vusimuzi Matlala's own testimony and have not been tested or confirmed. IDAC had not responded at the time of writing, and none of the officials named is shown to have done anything wrong. This follows our report on Matlala's Monday testimony about IDAC.

Businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala told the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday that investigators from the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) were focused on KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and wanted to remove the people around him first.

What Matlala told the commission

According to reports of his testimony, Matlala said Mkhwanazi was the investigators' main target. He said that when he asked senior IDAC investigator Suneel Bellochun why they wanted access to his cellphone, he was given an explanation about Mkhwanazi's allies. "He said they want to strip Mkhwanazi of his support base, and then they will deal with him directly," Matlala said.

Matlala said investigators also wanted to arrest national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola and crime intelligence head General Dumisani Khumalo, but "found nothing" on his phone. Asked why they were targeted, he said he did not know.

The plea deal and the Cele claims

Matlala said IDAC also wanted to charge former police minister Bheki Cele with corruption, and that investigators told him to help establish a history of him giving Cele money. He accepted giving Cele money but said the amount in his earlier statement was exaggerated.

He also said he told investigators on his way to court that he would accept a plea deal, but refused to agree to what they wanted written into it.

What we do not yet know

  • IDAC's response to these claims, and that of the investigator named.
  • Whether any evidence supports the claim that arrests of senior police officials were planned.
  • How the plea agreement ended. Reports differ on whether a court rejected it or Matlala withdrew from it.
  • How much of Matlala's account will stand. He has changed parts of his evidence before.