Criminal comrades? Pieter du Toit on THAT party picture that says a thousand words

“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”.If you haven’t read Animal Farm, that’s one of author George Orwell’s most famous quotes and it has never rung truer in the South African context than today, 31 July 2025.As we wait for the Madlanga Inquiry’s first public hearings into alleged police criminal capture, the man at the centre of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations, Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, just cannot stay out of the headlines. This time, it’s for rubbing shoulders with some questionable figures and senior ANC members at an ultra-elite 50th birthday party for fellow controversial tender don Edwin Sodi, all caught on camera. Our investigations editor, Pieter du Toit, argues that you’ll see, once and for all, the greatest example of a corrupt ANC patronage network. You can send show host Graeme Raubenheimer a short voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to our official The Lead WhatsApp line, that’s: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to thelead@24.com. Editions drop on Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.