The Johannesburg High Court has once again shut the door on Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, ruling that the businessman will remain behind bars while awaiting trial. Judge Pieter du Plessis delivered the judgment on Monday, dismissing Matlala’s bail appeal and finding that it would not be “in the interests of justice” for him to be released.
Matlala had approached the High Court after being denied bail by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court in September, where Magistrate Syta Prinsloo found that he failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances for his release and posed a potential flight risk.
A High-Stakes Appeal
In his ruling, Judge du Plessis agreed that the magistrate had applied the incorrect legal test — relying on the “exceptional circumstances” requirement — but said even under the correct test, the “interests of justice” still weighed against Matlala’s release.
“The magistrate relied on the wrong onus; however, weighing the interests of justice against the right of the appellant to his personal freedom and the prejudice he is likely to suffer, I conclude on a balance of probabilities that the interests of justice will not be served by his release,” said du Plessis.
The decision effectively means Matlala remains in custody, dealing a blow to his latest attempt to secure freedom while facing serious charges.
Attempted Murder and Organised Crime Links
Matlala stands accused of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering. The charges stem from the 2023 shooting of his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, who was shot in the foot on the N1 highway near Sandton.
The case has drawn significant public attention — not only because of the high-profile nature of the victim but also due to Matlala’s alleged connections to the so-called “Big Five” cartel, an organised crime network reportedly involved in corruption and contract killings.
These allegations surfaced during the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, head of Crime Intelligence, named Matlala as one of the cartel’s key members.
State Claims and Defence Pushback
The State opposed bail, arguing that Matlala posed a significant flight risk. Prosecutors claimed he had access to a private jet, foreign assets in Mauritius, and a fraudulent Eswatini identity document.
Advocate Laurance Hodes, SC, representing Matlala, dismissed these claims as unfounded. “There is no evidence that my client has foreign assets or a private jet. The State has misled the court,” Hodes argued.
He also noted that Matlala had been aware of the investigation since December 2024 and had fully cooperated with authorities, even sitting for a 10-hour interrogation without resistance.
Despite these assurances, the court was not convinced. Judge du Plessis’s decision echoed the magistrate’s earlier concerns about potential flight risk and public safety, effectively keeping Matlala in detention until the trial proceeds.
A Case That Keeps Unfolding
Apart from the attempted murder and money laundering charges, Matlala’s name continues to surface in broader investigations into alleged state corruption and organised crime in Gauteng. His supposed links to senior police officials and political figures have made him a recurring name in testimony before the Madlanga Commission.
As the High Court ruling cements his continued detention, Matlala’s legal battles are far from over. With multiple investigations still ongoing, and the Thobejane shooting case inching toward trial, his reputation — once tied to business circles — now sits squarely in the shadow of South Africa’s growing war on organised crime.
