Allegations linking senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials to cocaine dealings and large cash transactions were laid bare at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which revealed incriminating WhatsApp exchanges between Medicare24 CEO Mike van Wyk and alleged underworld figure Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
Van Wyk was due to testify before the commission on Monday, but his appearance was postponed after he reportedly suffered a panic attack.
In his absence, the commission entered his sworn statement into the record, noting that he will still be required to answer further oral questions at a later stage.
Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC said the inquiry would concentrate on two separate sets of WhatsApp communications: one extracted from Matlala’s phone involving conversations with Van Wyk during 2025, and another from the phone of suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, also involving Van Wyk, which reportedly dealt with internal SAPS-related issues.
In one exchange, the parties responded to a media report about an alleged arrest warrant for National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who has since been placed on special leave, as well as Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.
Van Wyk replied to the report by saying, “Not good,” while Matlala responded, “It’s actually good. My person is going to be a national commissioner now,” suggesting influence over senior police appointments.
In his written submission, Van Wyk denied knowledge of Matlala’s meaning, stating he was unaware of any references to senior police officials.
“I made it clear that I have never been introduced to high-ranking police officials, and Matlala never introduced me to any,” Van Wyk said.
“Matlala frequently claimed to have contacts within senior law enforcement circles, but he never provided names, and I was never involved in any meetings beyond operational engagements.”
The Medicare24 Tshwane District partnership between the two men had previously secured a three-year SAPS healthcare tender valued at R360 million, which was later cancelled following an investigation into procurement irregularities.
Chaskalson indicated that the commission would temporarily set aside the tender issue, as Van Wyk is still preparing a detailed submission on the matter expected later this week.
Attention then shifted to communications involving George van der Merwe, the former general manager at the controversial Optimum Coal Mine, previously owned by the Gupta family.
A video shown to the commission allegedly depicts Van Wyk introducing Mkhwanazi to Van der Merwe, assuring him that transport-related issues would be resolved through Mkhwanazi’s assistance.
Further messages dated 25 February 2025 show Van Wyk sending Matlala a video of a man injured inside a bullet-riddled vehicle, accompanied by the message, “This guy also had an issue with George.”
Chaskalson confirmed that investigators identified the victim as Maxwell Mlangeni, the owner of Today Destiny Logistics.
The attack occurred in Emalahleni, near the Optimum Coal Mine.
The inquiry also examined alleged cash dealings discussed on 24 March 2025, when Van Wyk sent Matlala an image of a large sum of cash wrapped in rubber bands inside a brown paper bag.
Van Wyk maintained in his statement that the image reflected legitimate casino winnings.
“One can see from the casino bag that this is a typical casino bag, and the notes are also tied in a particular way, which is only done by casinos,” his statement read.
“I am able to provide records confirming that I had won approximately R200,000 shortly before. I did not send Mr Matlala any photographs of illicit funds.”
Chaskalson noted that Van Wyk’s version suggests the WhatsApp data may have been altered, despite the image appearing consistent with his account of casino winnings.
A further disputed exchange on 6 April involved a video allegedly sent by Matlala showing brick-shaped packages of drugs, accompanied by the message, “Get me a good price.”
Van Wyk responded with a voice note stating, “We’ll go in at 250 [R250,000].”
He then forwarded a message from a third party to Matlala, which read: “Mike, we ready to take tomorrow afternoon as got important engagement in the morning. Wednesday we can take two again.”
To corroborate the exchange, investigators reviewed separate chats between Matlala and the same third party, which contained the identical voice note: “We’ll go in at 250.”
Forensic analysis later confirmed the packages depicted in the footage were cocaine, marked with a crown logo and the word “Prestige.”
Van Wyk denied ever receiving the drug-related video, but Chaskalson said the commission rejected this version, citing corroborating evidence obtained from the third party.
“The third party admits to sending the video to Matlala,” Chaskalson said. “He also confirms the authenticity of the WhatsApp messages exchanged between himself and Matlala.”
Chaskalson further rejected claims that the evidence could have been fabricated or manipulated.
“He did not receive the video or send the voice note, someone would have had to implant them into the chat. That would be technically impossible. The data was extracted from Matlala’s iPhone 16, and forensic experts confirm that WhatsApp messages cannot be inserted into a secure database without leaving a digital trace.”
He also noted that the third party had used WhatsApp’s ‘Delete for Everyone’ function to remove the video from his own chat with Matlala, making it impossible for external actors to retrieve and reinsert it elsewhere.
The commission is continuing its examination of remaining WhatsApp exchanges between Van Wyk and Mkhwanazi.
