Alleged crime boss Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s attempted murder case transferred to High Court

Alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s high-profile attempted murder case has been transferred to the Johannesburg High Court, where he and his co-accused will stand trial on multiple charges.

Matlala appeared briefly in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday as prosecutors moved to consolidate several cases against him. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the cases, originating from different jurisdictions, would be centralised to ensure a more streamlined trial process.

The 49-year-old businessman is accused of orchestrating a hit on his former girlfriend, actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, and faces other additional attempted murder charges involving several high-profile figures, including taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and DJ Seunkie Mokubung, also known as DJ Wetties.

Matlala, 49, a businessman, will stand trial alongside four co-accused: Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, his wife Tsakani Matlala, and Mabusela’s daughter, Nthabiseng Nzama. 

They face charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering.

The charges stem from the 2023 shooting of Matlala’s ex-girlfriend, Thobejane, on the N1 highway near Sandton. 

Thobejane, known for her role in Muvhango, was shot in the foot during the attack, while a female passenger in her vehicle suffered a severe spinal injury and has been left paralysed.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Matlala and his wife’s lawyer, Victor Nkhwashu, withdrew from the case. A new legal representative has reportedly been appointed. 

The matter has been reportedly transferred to the Johannesburg High Court, and the accused are scheduled to appear again on January 29, 2026.

Matlala has been denied bail twice - first in September by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court and again in October by the Johannesburg High Court. 

The state argued that he posed a flight risk, citing alleged access to a private jet, foreign assets in Mauritius, and a fraudulent Eswatini identity document.

Defence advocate Laurence Hodes, SC, countered that the state had misled the court, saying there was no evidence linking Matlala to those assets. 

He argued that his client had cooperated fully with authorities since December 2024, including sitting through a 10-hour interrogation.

The state continues to oppose bail, alleging that Matlala was found with a cellphone during a raid at Kgosi Mampuru Prison. 

Prosecutors claim the device contained the contact details of a police officer saved as “operator” and showed attempted contact from North West businessman Brown Mogotsi, who has been implicated in corruption allegations.

Matlala’s name has also surfaced in the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, both investigating corruption and interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS). 

Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo identified him as a member of the so-called “Big Five” cartel, allegedly involved in narcotics, extortion, and contract killings linked to drug operations.

NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana previously confirmed that the state is working to centralise all related cases.

“You will recall that in this matter there’s a Vereeniging case, as well as two cases from Pretoria,” she said. 

“Those cases fall under the jurisdiction of Pretoria, hence we saw the need to apply for centralisation and get approval from the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.”

Seven dockets - two from Orlando, two from Pretoria, two from Sandton, and one from Vereeniging - are said to share common elements. 

IOL News