Matlala attempted-murder trial halted so co-accused can write exam

The Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala attempted murder trial was postponed on Monday, 2 November, so that one of the accused can write an exam.

The case had only just returned to the Johannesburg High Court after a three-week recess.

Judge Cassim Moosa postponed the matter to Thursday, 5 November, because accused number five, Zandile Nthabiseng Nzama, is writing an exam on Tuesday.

Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala and their co-accused made only a brief appearance in court.

What the court heard in the Matlala trial on Monday

Moosa said the court had been told about the exam almost two weeks ago.

“The court will not be sitting tomorrow because she is writing tomorrow,” he said.

Before the adjournment, forensic pathologist Professor Gert Saayman answered questions about the medical records of accused number one, Musa Kekana. Saayman is testifying for Kekana’s defence.

Kekana claims police assaulted and suffocated him after his arrest in April 2024.

He says he may have made admissions as a result, and he is now challenging them.

Saayman previously told the court he could not conclusively saypolice suffocated Kekana, but he could not rule it out.

The break also gives Dr Du Toit, who examined Kekana after his arrest, time to consult with the defence.

She is expected to testify on Thursday.

Who are the accused and the alleged targets?

In the dock with Matlala, widely known as “Cat”, are his wife, Tsakane Matlala, Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nzama.

Together, they face 25 charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, 11 counts of attempted murder and money laundering.

Nzama faces only three of the counts, all relating to money laundering.

The State alleges Matlala orchestrated three assassination attempts between August 2022 and January 2024.

The alleged targets were his former girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, businessman Joe Sibanyoni, and music producer Seunkie Mokubung, known as DJ Vettys.

All the accused are presumed innocent, and the allegations have not been proven in court.

The fight at the heart of the Matlala attempted murder trial

The court is running a trial within a trial.

This is a separate hearing to decide whether Kekana’s arrest on 17 April 2024for the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart was lawful.

It will also decide whether evidence from the searches that followed can be used.

That evidence reportedly includes weapons allegedly used in the murders for hire.

Section 35(5) of the Constitution states that evidence obtained in a way that violates the Bill of Rights “must be excluded if the admission of that evidence would render the trial unfair or otherwise be detrimental to the administration of justice.”

The State provisionally closed its side of the hearing in September.

Before the recess, prosecutors accused Kekana of tailoring his evidence, pointing to discrepancies between his recent affidavits and his 2024 bail application.

A busy November for Matlala

Matlala is also expected back at the Madlanga Commission on 9 and 10 November, eNCA senior reporter Silindelo Sebata reported on X.

Public hearings resume after the 4 November local government elections.

His testimony had been pushed out to 14 December.

The case is causing delays elsewhere too.

The murder trial of businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe has been postponed to 2027, because Kekana and Mabusela are accused in both cases.

Why the ruling matters

If key evidence is thrown out, the State’s case could weaken considerably.

If it stands, the prosecution moves into the main trial with its full arsenal.

SHOULD COURTS BE STRICTER ABOUT HOW POLICE GATHER EVIDENCE, EVEN IF IT DELAYS JUSTICE?