The case against businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four co-accused has been postponed to 12 February by the High Court in Johannesburg.
NPA spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole, said the the postponement will allow the State to assist the defence in accessing disclosed information and for a new pre-trial date.
Matlala faces 25 charges alongside Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, Tsakane Matlala and Zandile Nthabiseng Nzama, including 11 counts of attempted murder arising from three separate shooting incidents between August 2022 and January 2024.
The State alleges that the accused were involved in a shooting, laundered money linked to the plot, and used a fraudulent invoice to conceal the origin of the funds and mislead the court.
One of the incidents involved the shooting of Matlala’s former partner, Tebogo Thobejane, who was shot in the foot in October 2023. Another woman was also injured in the incident. Thobejane has since fled South Africa, citing fear for her life.
Kekana, Mabusela and Matlala remain in custody. The defence has indicated an intention to bring a bail application on new facts for Matlala, while the fourth and fifth accused are out on bail. Matlala’s bail appeal was previously dismissed by the High Court in October 2025 due to concerns about his flight risk and danger to witnesses.
Testimony before parliament
In November last year, Matlala testified before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of police corruption and interference. The committee was established to investigate claims made by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of the SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head.
During his testimony, Matlala admitted to giving R500 000 to former police minister Bheki Cele, with payments allegedly made in a Woolworths bag and at a hotel in KwaZulu-Natal. He told the committee he paid “to make my problems go away and to sort out issues with the police”.
Matlala is linked to a cancelled R360 million SAPS health services contract awarded to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, in July 2024. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola cancelled the contract due to procurement irregularities. He is also connected to the Tembisa Hospital scandal, involving alleged fraudulent payments totalling nearly R3 billion.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption had warned the National Police Commissioner that Matlala’s company was bidding for the SAPS tender despite lacking a tax clearance certificate and being flagged for involvement in the Tembisa Hospital matter.
Testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System has included claims that Matlala had top police officials on his payroll and was involved in a network of corruption and bribery within the police force.
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