Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala allowed to physically consult with lawyers at Kgosi Mampuru [VIDEO]

Businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala appears alongside co-accused Tsakani Matlala at Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on October 07, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is reported that Matlala remains in custody facing charges for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane. The suspects are accused of orchestrating the failed assassination of Matlala’s former partner, socialite Tebogo Thobejane, in October 2023.

(Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo) Alleged underworld figure and tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has been allowed to physically consult with his legal team. Matlala appeared in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday, 12 February 2026, for a pre-trial conference, where the order was handed down. Matlala is one of five accused in the matter.

His co-accused include his wife, Tsakani Matlala, alleged hitmen Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Mabusela’s daughter, Nthabiseng Nzama. They collectively face 25 charges ranging from attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder to fraud, money laundering and defeating the ends of justice. During Matlala’s last court appearance, his lawyer, Advocate Annelene van den Heever, complained about the conditions at theeBongweni Correctional Centrein Kokstad.

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after being transferred from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria on 21 December. However, during court proceedings on Thursday, it emerged that he had returned to Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, which is believed to be an interim measure. The State said the Correctional Services Department agreed to his being held at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, but was unsure whether they planned to send Matlala back to eBongweni Correctional Centre.

But van den Heever applied for a court order to facilitate consultations with Matlala after experiencing difficulties accessing him. “We’re going to ask that our client be brought back to Joburg on Monday to finalise the consultation. It is a costly exercise.

“I believe that it’s going to take a long time to have a proper consultation with the client, at least when it comes to the expert issues. We can sit with him, have direct contact with him, show him the stuff, push documents through to him that he can read and give us proper instructions,” van der Heever said.

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