NPA confirms businessman Vusimuzi 'CAT' Matlala wants to appeal his bail denial

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed it has received a motion from controversial businessman Vusimuzi “CAT” Matlala, who intends to appeal the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court’s decision to deny him bail last month.

However, the NPA said it will strongly oppose the appeal.

Speaking outside the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, NPA Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana said the state is preparing to challenge Matlala’s application.

“We can confirm, as the NPA, that we received their motion. He intends to appeal the decision of the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court that denied him bail,” Mjonondwana said.

“And furthermore, as the state, we can indicate that we are in the process of preparing ourselves to oppose his application.

“We believe this court was not misdirected, whether in law or factually. So we will be opposing his application. However, we are still awaiting a set-down date for the hearing.”

Matlala, 49, appeared briefly in court alongside his four co-accused - Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, Matlala’s wife Tsakani Matlala, and Mabusela’s daughter Nthabiseng Nzama.

He faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering related to 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 allegedly shot in the foot during the attack. 

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

Matlala was previously denied bail in September. 

Magistrate Syta Prinsloo ruled that he failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances justifying his release and found that he posed a flight risk.

The state had opposed bail, pointing to Matlala’s alleged access to a private jet, foreign assets in Mauritius, and possession of a fraudulent Eswatini identity document. 

Prosecutors allege the ID, bearing a different surname, was sent to him by his wife, and cellphone records show he travelled to Eswatini on at least three occasions.

However, Matlala though his lawyer , Advocate Laurence Hodes SC, denied all allegations and claimed the investigating officer lied under oath. 

He also denied owning a private jet or a boat.

Matlala’s wife, Tsakani Matlala, is currently out on bail. The fifth accused, Nzama, who was added to the case on money laundering charges, is also out on bail.

Meanwhile, the state has applied to centralise the matter by consolidating seven dockets from various jurisdictions: two from Orlando, two from Pretoria, two from Sandton, and one from Vereeniging. 

The dockets are said to be linked by common elements.

The NPA plans to streamline the prosecution process and ultimately transfer the consolidated case to the Johannesburg High Court.

The matter, presided over by Magistrates Renier Boshoff and Syta Prinsloo, has been postponed until November 11, for the centralisation process to be finalised.

“The state has requested a further postponement. You’ll recall that on the previous occasion, we indicated to the court that we are still busy with the centralisation process,” Mjonondwana said.

She confirmed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Pretoria has given consent for two of the matters to be centralised and that the dockets have been forwarded to the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) for further consideration.

“We are hoping that by November 11, all processes would be finalised so that we can move to the next stage, which is transferring the matter to the High Court for trial,” she added.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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