A trial-within-a-trial continues at the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg to determine whether key evidence against alleged hitman Musa Kekana will be admissible in the murder-for-hire case involving businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four co-accused.
The main trial, which began on 20 July, has been suspended while the court hears arguments about evidence obtained during Kekana’s arrest on 17 April 2024. Kekana (accused one) faces charges alongside Matlala (49), Matlala’s wife Tsakane, alleged hitman Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Nthabiseng Zandile Nzama.
All five accused have pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, 11 counts of attempted murder, money laundering, fraud, and illegal possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition, including an AK-47 assault rifle.
Current court proceedings
Kekana’s legal representative has challenged the admissibility of evidence, arguing that a state witness failed to provide a sufficiently detailed description of the driver the witness alleges was Kekana. The defence contends Kekana’s constitutional rights were violated and that his arrest was unlawful.
Captain Phumi Sekgobela of the Tactical Response Team testified about the operation that led to Kekana’s arrest. The court has heard that police conducted a warrantless search of Kekana’s home in Kew, Johannesburg, with Sekgobela claiming urgency and fear that evidence would be destroyed.
A key piece of evidence in dispute is a white Hyundai i20 allegedly used in the murder of engineer Armand Swart (30) on 17 April 2024. Swart was shot 23 times outside his workplace at Q Tech Engineering in Vereeniging in what investigators believe was a case of mistaken identity.
Private security officer Christiaan Frederick Shepherd testified that he identified Kekana driving the white Hyundai i20 to the Kew property shortly before the arrest. The defence argues that Kekana was at home when a tenant arrived in the vehicle and left in another car.
Police also recovered a bloodstained mustard-coloured jersey and towel at the scene. Judge Cassim Moosa has upheld defence objections to prevent the state from leading evidence on specific recovered items until the court rules on their admissibility.
Three alleged assassination attempts
The state alleges that Matlala orchestrated three separate failed assassination plots between August 2022 and January 2024:
On 10 August 2022, taxi businessman Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni and four others were targeted in a shooting at the Centurion Golf and Country Club Estate. Assailants using AK-47 rifles wounded Sibanyoni during the attack.
On 17 October 2023, actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, Matlala’s former partner, was targeted in an attempted hit on the N1 highway near Sandton. Thobejane survived the attack, although her friend Anele Alicia Malinga was wounded. The state presented evidence linking payments from Matlala to co-accused in connection with this attack. The court heard that Thobejane fled South Africa due to safety concerns related to the case.
On 29 January 2024, music producer Seunkie “DJ Vettys” Mokubung, Leonard Buhle Masango, and Tswarelo Tshepiso Pitse were targeted in Pretoria West.
The state alleges that Matlala bankrolled these assassination attempts.
Matlala’s arrest and bail denial
Matlala was arrested in 2025. During his bail application at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court in September 2025, the state presented evidence that he was a flight risk. The court denied him bail.
Matlala also faces separate ongoing legal challenges regarding his business dealings, including allegations of fraud and corruption related to South African Police Service tenders.
The trial is scheduled to proceed through 7 August before resuming from 31 August to 18 September.
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