South Africa may have narrowly avoided a major national security breach following revelations of an alleged plan involving controversial businessman Vuzimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and OR Tambo Airport.
An investigative piece by News24 has revealed details, which reportedly included a luxury private terminal that could have allowed selected individuals to bypass immigration and security.
Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks says the plan, if implemented, would have placed extraordinary power and wealth in Matlala’s hands.
“The takeaway for me is that this is a man who had untramelled ambitions about wealth.”
Wicks says the plans reached an advanced stage, where meetings were held, and documents were drawn up outlining how the private terminal would operate.
“Our investigation started looking at his state procurement, both at Tembisa Hospital and at the SAPS, both mired by allegations of fraud and corruption.”
He says Matlala’s involvement in the scheme came to light while he was in jail.
The suspected criminal mastermind is currently behind bars in a super maximum security prison in Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal.
“There were plans afoot to have a very valuable stake at OR Tambo, R70 million a year that he was asking from Nedbank.”
News24 managed to obtain Matlala’s concept document for ‘The Green Lounge’ luxury terminal, which the businessman planned to build at the airport’s cargo terminal.
“How it was pitched was this haven of tranquillity, with the best fine dining, bars, smoking rooms, sleep pods, and it would be for Nedbank’s uber wealthy.”
Wicks explains that the arrangement would have effectively given Matlala influence over who entered and exited the country.
“The trappings of wealth that he was pushing at Nedbank were really at the surface; the implications of this were that Cat Matlala’s agents would have been responsible for security screening at that airport.”
Moreover, according to the pitch document, clients would have been able to utilise a ‘fast track’ through the customs process.
“That tells you that it was more than a lounge; it was actually a terminal.”
And it’s this proximity to security processes at a national key point that is particularly concerning, given Matlala’s suspected links to drug cartels, says Wicks.
The story follows earlier controversies involving Matlala, who is currently facing charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
To listen to Wicks in conversation with 702’s Bongani Bingwa, use the audio player below: