‘Cat’ Matlala case: Officer involved in Kekana arrest says suspect didn’t report alleged assault

Musa Kekana in the High Court in Johannesburg, 3 August 2026. Picture: The Citizen An officer involved in the arrests of murder accused Musa Kekana and Michael Pule Tau has disagreed with the version of events presented to him by the defence. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Tsotetsi, then a captain, was part of the Gauteng Tactical Response Team (TRT) that arrested Kekana and Tau in Kew on 17 April 2024.

Tsotetsi was questioned by defence advocate Riaan Gissing on Tuesday in the High Court in Johannesburg on the particulars of the arrest, as Kekana continued his attempt to have evidence against him declared inadmissible via a trial within a trial. Tsotetsi explained that he was on the N3 near Bedfordview when he received a call from TRT commander, andprevious witness, Captain Phimi Sekgobelarequesting a pre-raid meeting. Tsotetsi met his commander and other officers at a shopping centre in Bramley where they were briefed.

Unable to confirm the number of officers involved, he said “four or five” law enforcement vehicles intercepted a Mercedes-Benz Viana on 8thRoad in Kew. Tsotetsi disagreed with Gissing’s assertion that warning shots were fired at the 8thRoad scene and would not confirm alleged taunts from Sekgobela aimed at Kekana when effecting the arrest. Kekana and Tau were placed face first on the tarmac, with the officer stating Kekana had complained about being uncomfortable.

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Tsotetsi said Kekana was accommodated by officers who allowed him to be cuffed while sitting upright, denying that any injuries could have been sustained during the arrest. Gising said this was counter to Kekana’s statement and asserted that the accused did not have their rights read to them – something the officer denied. Kekana is alleged to have used a Hyundai i20 as the getaway car in the murder of Armand Swart in Vereeniging hours before his arrest.

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