- Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala denied bail in alleged attempted hit on actress Tebogo Thobejane.
- Court cites flight risk, dual identities, and possible witness interference.
- NPA and police link Matlala to organised crime syndicate in Gauteng.
Controversial Gauteng businessman and tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has been denied bail by the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court in connection with the alleged October 2023 hit on his ex-girlfriend, TV actress and influencer Tebogo Thobejane.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, magistrate Syta Prinsloo ruled that Matlala posed a serious flight risk, noting that he holds dual identities, South African and Swazi, identity documents which could help him evade trial.
Prinsloo further said that the court had to weigh the possibility of witness interference and the integrity of the justice process if Matlala were released.
Court Highlights Risks and Severity of Charges
The court rejected Matlala’s claims that his strong ties to South Africa, including marriage, home ownership, and a business payroll of R2 million a month, were enough to prove he was not a flight risk.
Instead, the court found that Matlala’s access to a cellphone while incarcerated pointed to his ability to continue exerting influence outside prison.
Prinsloo emphasised the seriousness of the charges, which include allegations of ordering multiple hits that caused permanent injuries and trauma.
Prinsloo said, “The charges, which include multiple murder orders, show conduct that is both organized and premeditated.”
NPA Welcomes Court Ruling
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the decision, with spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane saying the state had presented an “avalanche of evidence” to convince the court that Matlala was not suitable for release.
“He has business interests abroad, so he is a flight risk. The state is also ready to respond should the accused choose to appeal,” she added.
Links to Syndicates and Political Interference Alleged
Matlala was arrested in May by the crime intelligence unit in Midrand for the alleged attempted murder of Thobejane.
During a media briefing in July, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Matlala of being a central figure in a Gauteng-based syndicate that had infiltrated organised crime and police structures.
Mkhwanazi further alleged links between Matlala and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu through an associate, Brown Mogotsi, raising concerns of political interference in criminal investigations.