Judgment Reserved In Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala Bail Appeal Amid Contract Killing Allegations

The fate of Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, alleged orchestrator of multiple contract killings and controversial businessman, will be decided this Friday. Matlala’s legal team has been seeking his release from custody to allow him to contest the charges while out on bail.

During proceedings on Monday at the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, the presiding judge confirmed that judgment had been reserved.

“Judgment has been reserved in this matter. I am not going to hand down the judgment today, but promise to do so on Friday, which is my open day for the judgment to be uploaded onto the system,” the judge said.

Matlala appeared in court to appeal against the Magistrate’s Court decision last month, which denied him bail after deeming him a flight risk and a potential danger to society.

Serious Allegations and Controversial Background

Matlala faces allegations linked to the failed assassination of his former partner, socialite Tebogo Thobejane, in October 2023—a claim he denies. His name has also been associated with questionable contracts at Tembisa Hospital.

During his previous bail application, Matlala argued that detention negatively affected both his health and business operations. However, the State countered that no medical evidence supported claims of health complications after more than five months in custody.

The State also highlighted Matlala’s accusations against the police, claiming they stole watches during a search and planted evidence on his phone.

“The appellant has not been impeccable in painting a narrative against the police, having accused them of stealing his watch collection during a search and seizure operation at his house,” the prosecutor stated.

“What the court should consider is that the appellant can bypass protocol, as he had access to cellphone communication while in custody on July 6, the day of the raid of his cell at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional facility.”

Authorities also cited Matlala’s alleged access to a private jet, foreign assets in Mauritius, and possession of a fraudulent Eswatini identity document as reasons to deny bail.

Defence and State Present Conflicting Evidence

Matlala’s defence team argued that the case against him is largely circumstantial, particularly regarding allegations of money laundering and involvement in contract killings.

“There is no smoking gun, and the invoice, they say, because of the receipt book, this is money laundering. Here is a man who is being charged on circumstantial evidence of a communication; there is no DNA, they tie firearms from one scene to another, and there is no connection linking him to all of this,” the defence lawyer said.

The State maintained that their case relied on multiple forms of evidence, including money transfers, WhatsApp messages, and falsified invoices allegedly used to pay contract killers.

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“We sit with the defence and say there is no evidence that the appellant could be linked to conversations and transfer of monies. We have seized the invoice book from a funeral parlour where the invoice occurs completely out of sync and dated 23rd October 2024, and that is where money laundering comes from.

“The State contends that this invoice was falsified to conceal the origins of the payments,” the prosecutor explained.

The defence requested a reduced bail of R100,000 and suggested house arrest as a compromise, highlighting Matlala’s willingness to cooperate with investigations.

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