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In a move that has sent shockwaves through South Africa’s criminal justice and political landscape, controversial businessman and alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was quietly transferred under the cover of darkness to eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre — a facility so secretive and secure that very little about its inner workings is officially disclosed to the public. The midnight relocation has raised serious questions: Why now, why eBongweni, and what exactly are authorities trying to prevent?
eBongweni, often referred to as C-Max, is not just another prison. It is South Africa’s only super-maximum correctional facility and the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Situated near Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal, the prison is designed to house the country’s most dangerous, high-risk, and influential offenders — individuals considered capable of manipulating systems, corrupting officials, or orchestrating criminal activity even while behind bars. Matlala’s transfer there signals that authorities view him as more than an ordinary detainee.
Matlala is currently facing a staggering 25 criminal charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder linked to a series of alleged shootings involving socialite Thobejane and other complainants. He stands accused alongside several co-accused: Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, Zandile Nthabiseng Nzama, and his wife, Tsakane Matlala. Prosecutors allege that the group was involved in coordinated criminal activities ranging from violent attacks to financial crimes.
Among the most damning allegations are charges of money laundering exceeding R120,000, believed to be connected to a suspected murder-for-hire plot. The state also alleges that fraudulent invoices were submitted as part of an effort to conceal the flow of illicit funds. Collectively, the charges paint a picture of an individual allegedly operating at the intersection of organised crime, violence, and financial manipulation.
But why was Matlala transferred to eBongweni specifically?
The answer may lie in the prison’s extreme security measures. eBongweni is widely regarded as virtually escape-proof. It is equipped with biometric access systems, electronically controlled steel doors, constant CCTV surveillance, and a specialised Emergency Support Team on permanent standby. The Kokstad police dog unit is also integrated into the facility’s security protocol, ready to respond instantly to any breach or disturbance.
Inmates housed at eBongweni endure conditions far harsher than those in standard correctional centres. Prisoners are confined to underground cells for up to 23 hours a day, spending most of their time in complete isolation. Meals are delivered through a narrow slot in the cell door, with minimal human interaction. The prison operates under a rigid behaviour modification programme, which includes a notorious “Solitary Stage” designed to break communication, influence, and coordination between inmates.
Authorities believe this level of isolation is crucial in Matlala’s case. The transfer is widely seen as an attempt to completely sever his alleged communication networks — both inside and outside the prison system — and to prevent any possible interference with witnesses, investigators, or co-accused.
The history of eBongweni itself adds to the gravity of the situation. The prison has previously housed some of South Africa’s most infamous criminals, including Czech fugitive and convicted criminal Radovan Krejcir, serial killer Thozamile Taki, and Ananias Mathe, infamously dubbed the “Houdini of C-Max.” Mathe’s failed escape attempt from eBongweni is often cited as proof of the prison’s near-impenetrable security, reinforcing its reputation as the final destination for inmates deemed unmanageable elsewhere.
Beyond the walls of the prison, the case has reignited concerns about corruption and state capture within the criminal justice system. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has publicly alleged that certain police officials, prosecutors from Gauteng, politicians, and even members of the judiciary have been compromised by what he refers to as the “Big Five Cartel” — a network of underworld businessmen operating primarily out of Gauteng.
Matlala’s legal history appears to lend weight to these claims. Over the years, several cases involving him have reportedly collapsed, been mysteriously withdrawn, or ended in controversial acquittals, fuelling public suspicion about undue influence and systemic interference.
These concerns were further amplified when Department of Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale personally led a secret raid on Matlala’s prison cell prior to the transfer. During the operation, a contraband cellphone was allegedly discovered — a serious breach in a system meant to prevent exactly such communication. So significant was the find that Thobakgale reportedly bypassed his own subordinates, choosing instead to involve Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi to ensure the device was secured and investigated properly. The incident raised alarming questions about internal trust, corruption, and the vulnerability of correctional systems to manipulation.
The urgency of isolating Matlala has also been intensified by recent developments in related investigations. The death of Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D in the Madlanga Commission probing police corruption, has cast a long shadow over the case. Van der Merwe had testified about alleged criminal networks and corruption within law enforcement before his death, which has heightened fears around witness intimidation and silencing.
Against this backdrop, the National Prosecuting Authority has signalled its determination to see the case through. Gauteng Regional Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane has confirmed that prosecutors are pressing ahead with the charges, describing the matter as one of significant public interest. The case is scheduled to be heard in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, on 29 January 2026.
As Matlala now sits alone in an underground cell at eBongweni, cut off from the world, the transfer raises more questions than answers. Is this the beginning of accountability for a man long associated with power and influence, or merely another chapter in a saga marked by secrecy and controversy? For now, what remains clear is that the state believes Matlala is dangerous — not just for the crimes he is accused of, but for the influence he allegedly wields. And that may be the very thing they are not telling the public outright.
