The Madlanga Commission has disclosed explosive WhatsApp exchanges between Medicare24 CEO Mike van Wyk and alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, revealing discussions about cocaine, cash transactions, and influence over high ranking police officials.
Van Wyk was scheduled to testify on Monday, but his appearance was postponed after he suffered a panic attack. In his absence, the commission placed his formal statement on the record.
Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson said the commission would focus on two sets of WhatsApp data: chats between Matlala and Van Wyk from 2025, and a separate thread between Van Wyk and suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi.
In the chats between Matlala and Van Wyk, they discussed internal SAPS matters. Reacting to news of arrest warrants for national police commissioner Fannie Masemola and crime intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo, Van Wyk said “not good.” Matlala replied that it was good because his person would become national commissioner, highlighting his influence.
Van Wyk claimed in his statement he did not know who Matlala was referring to and said he was never introduced to high ranking police officials.
The commission also examined messages involving George van der Merwe, former general manager of the Gupta owned Optimum Coal Mine. A video showed Van Wyk introducing Mkhwanazi to Van der Merwe and assuring him transport problems would be sorted out.
Other chats showed Van Wyk sending Matlala a video of a wounded man in a bullet riddled vehicle, followed by a text saying the man had an issue with George. Investigators identified the man as Maxwell Mlangeni, whose shooting occurred near the Optimum Coal Mine.
On 24 March 2025, Van Wyk sent Matlala a photo of a large stash of cash. Van Wyk claimed it was casino winnings of about R200,000. Chaskalson noted Van Wyk’s defence implies that section of the chat was tampered with.
More damning was an exchange from 6 April where Matlala sent Van Wyk a video of brick shaped drug packs, followed by a message asking for a good price. Van Wyk replied with a voice note saying “we’ll go in at 250.” Police confirmed the bricks, stamped with a crown logo and the word Prestige, were pure cocaine.
Van Wyk denied receiving the video, but Chaskalson said investigators tracked down and interviewed the third party who sent the video to Matlala. Chaskalson dismantled the defence theory that the evidence was fabricated, stating that forensic experts confirmed it is impossible to inject a message into a secure WhatsApp database without leaving a clear digital fingerprint. He also noted the third party had used WhatsApp’s delete for everyone feature, making it impossible for an outside party to access and plant the file on Van Wyk’s device.
The commission is continuing its scrutiny of the remaining chat logs between Van Wyk and Mkhwanazi.