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Cat Matlala attempted murder trial resumes in Johannesburg

Published

The trial of businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala and four others resumes on Monday at the High Court in Johannesburg after a three-week recess. The court is hearing a trial within a trial on whether certain evidence is admissible.

Matlala and his co-accused face charges of orchestrating three alleged failed assassination attempts. The state says the attempts happened between August 2022 and January 2024. It says the targets were Tebogo Thobejane, Joe Sibanyoni and Seunkie Mokubung, who is known as DJ Vettys.

The trial within a trial concerns evidence from the 2024 arrest of alleged hitman Musa Kekana. The court must decide whether that evidence is admissible. Kekana was arrested in 2024 over the murder of Armand Swart.

The state says Kekana tailored his evidence. It says it found several discrepancies between his affidavits in the trial within a trial and his submissions in his 2024 bail application.

Key facts

Who
Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala (accused businessman); Tsakane Matlala (accused, Matlala's wife); Musa Kekana (alleged hitman, accused); Tiego Mabusela (alleged hitman, accused)
What
The trial of Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and four co-accused on charges of orchestrating three alleged failed assassination attempts resumes at the Johannesburg High Court. The court is currently hearing a trial within a trial over whether evidence obtained from alleged hitman Musa Kekana's 2024 arrest is admissible.
When
2 November 2026
Where
Johannesburg
Status
Reported

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