Business tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala including his wife, Tsakani Matlala, and other accused are due to appear in the Johannesburg High Court for pre-trial. .
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Controversial businessman and murder accused Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and four co-accused, including his wife Tsakanj Matlala, are set to appear in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday as pretrial proceedings resume in a case involving 25 charges, including attempted murder.
Matlala appears alongside Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Zandile Nthabiseng Nzama.
The group faces 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, linked to three separate shooting incidents allegedly committed between August 2022 and January 2024.
The state alleges the accused orchestrated a shooting, laundered money linked to the alleged plot and used a fraudulent invoice to conceal the source of funds and mislead the court.
The pretrial proceedings follow an application by Matlala’s legal team for a court order to facilitate consultations with their client after difficulties accessing him following his transfer from Kgosi Mampuru II Maximum Security Prison in Pretoria to eBongweni Supermax Correctional Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole previously said the court ordered prison authorities to provide a consultation room allowing unobstructed, face-to-face meetings and the exchange of documents necessary for trial preparation.
The order is effective from 16 to 17 February 2026.
Earlier this month, Matlala’s lawyer, Advocate Anneline van den Heever, raised concerns about the impact of his relocation on trial preparations.
She said the distance and the volume of documents to be analysed had complicated consultations and were not in the interests of justice.
“It will take a long time to have a proper consultation with him. At least when it comes to the expert issues, we will sit with him and have direct contact with him,” she told the court.
The court also granted the defence permission to bring a laptop into Kgosi Mampuru II on February 16 and 17 to facilitate consultations.
Over recent months, the case has been marked by delays and logistical challenges arising from Matlala’s transfer, with legal representatives for the co-accused also raising concerns about access to their clients.
Matlala faces charges stemming from an alleged failed assassination attempt on his former girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, as well as the shootings of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and music producer Seunkie “DJ Vetteys” Mokubong.
In a previous appearance, the matter was postponed to allow the defence to engage the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) regarding a possible transfer back to a Gauteng facility.
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