Court Orders Cat Matlala Co-Accused To Remain In Trial As Bid To Skip Proceedings Fails

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has dismissed an application by one of the accused in the attempted murder trial linked to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, ruling that she must continue attending court proceedings.

The matter resumed on Monday, 27 July 2026, with Matlala appearing alongside his wife Tsakane Matlala, alleged hitmen Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, as well as Nthabiseng Zandile Nzama. All the accused have pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, with defeating the ends of justice listed as an alternative charge, and money laundering.

Cat Matlala Trial: Co-Accused Wanted To Be Excused From Court

Nzama, the daughter of co-accused Mabusela, asked the court to excuse her from attending proceedings until evidence directly relating to the charges against her is presented.

Through her attorney, Timothy Chauke, Nzama submitted an affidavit in which she argued that remaining in court while evidence unrelated to her case is heard would be unnecessary.

"I remain committed to standing trial, complying with every direction of this honourable court and attending whenever my present is required," her affidavit states.

She further argued that the current trial timetable, which runs until 7 August before resuming from 31 August to 18 September, would place an unnecessary burden on her.

Cat Matlala Co-Accused Cites Studies And Daily Travel

Nzama, who is out on R10 000 bail, also told the court that the lengthy proceedings were affecting her studies at Stadio Higher Education, where she is completing a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree.

She said travelling between Pretoria and Johannesburg each day, combined with the duration of court sessions, left her with little opportunity to focus on her academic work.

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"The lengthy duration of this trial, together with the daily travel between Pretoria and Johannesburg consumes the greater part of each weekday.

"By the time, the court adjourns and I return home, I am physically and mentally exhausted leaving little or meaningful opportunity to devout to my academic responsibilities," her affidavit said.

State Continues Leading Evidence In Cat Matlala Attempted Murder Trial

Addressing the court, Chauke argued that the prosecution had not yet presented evidence linking his client to the allegations before the court.

He acknowledged that the State intends calling more than 80 witnesses but said the defence could not have anticipated how the trial would unfold, which is why the application was not made during pre-trial proceedings.

"The evidence of the two witnesses that have been called already before this court, there's no evidence that implicates accused five," Chauke told the court.

Despite the submissions, the High Court dismissed Nzama's application, meaning she must continue attending proceedings alongside her co-accused as the State continues to present its case.

Prosecutors allege that Matlala orchestrated several attempted killings, including the 2023 shooting involving his former partner and influencer Tebogo Thobejane, a 2022 alleged plot targeting taxi boss Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni, and a 2024 incident involving music producer Seunkie "DJ Vettys" Mokubung. The trial continues.