During his testimony, Matlala was questioned about WhatsApp conversations involving references to “bricks”, which raised suspicions about possible drug-related dealings.
Evidence leader Advocate Mahlape Sello presented a video showing white, brick-shaped packages being weighed on a digital scale and asked Matlala to explain what the product was.
Despite having forwarded the footage to Van Wyk, Matlala admitted that he could not identify the substance.
He maintained that the product was a mining commodity traded by miners, insisting that it was not cocaine. However, when pressed to provide its actual name, he was unable to do so.
Matlala explained that the product did not belong to him and that he had simply passed the information along to other people. According to his testimony, he believed Van Wyk had a client involved in mining who might have been interested in the product.
He further argued that because he was not the owner, he had no reason to investigate exactly what the substance was.
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His explanation prompted further questions about how he could assist in arranging a potential deal without knowing what was being traded.
The exchange became another notable moment in Matlala's appearance before the commission, which has been examining allegations of corruption, criminal activity and improper relationships involving individuals connected to South Africa's law enforcement structures.
While the white bricks have sparked suspicions, their contents have not been conclusively established, and Matlala continues to deny that the product was cocaine.
For now, the mystery remains: if the bricks were not cocaine, what exactly were they?
