Murder-accused 'Cat' Matlala set to appear in Alexandra Court as NPA consolidates cases

Murder-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) moves to consolidate multiple dockets from various jurisdictions. 

The state plans to transfer the matter to the Johannesburg High Court once the consolidation process is complete.

Matlala, 49, a businessman, will appear alongside four co-accused.

These include Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, his wife Tsakani Matlala, and Mabusela’s daughter, Nthabiseng Nzama.

He faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering. 

The charges stem from the 2023 shooting of his ex-girlfriend, actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, on the N1 highway near Sandton. 

Thobejane, known for her role in Muvhango, was shot in the foot during the attack. 

A female passenger in the vehicle suffered a severe spinal injury and has since been left paralyzed.

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

This was after the state argued that he posed a flight risk due to alleged access to a private jet, foreign assets in Mauritius, and a fraudulent Eswatini identity document.

His attorney, Advocate Laurance Hodes, SC, argued that the state misled the court by claiming Matlala owned those assets. 

Hodes said there was no evidence supporting those claims and that his client had cooperated with authorities since December 2024, including sitting through a 10-hour interrogation.

The state maintains its opposition to bail, citing evidence that Matlala was found with a cellphone during a raid at Kgosi Mampuru Prison. 

Prosecutors said the phone 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 at the Madlanga Commission and the Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee. The two are 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 centralize all related cases.

“You will recall that on 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 centralization 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 be linked by common elements. 

The NPA said centralising the cases would streamline prosecution and ensure a more efficient trial process once the matter is transferred to the Johannesburg High Court.

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