Alleged hitman’s daughter loses bid to skip court in Cat Matlala attempted murder trial

Nthabiseng Nzama appears in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on 26 February 2026. Picture: Gallo Images The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has ruled that one of the accused in the attempted murder case linked to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala must continue attending proceedings, dismissing her bid to be excused. The matter resumed on Monday, 27 July 2026, with Matlala appearing alongside his wife Tsakane Matlala, alleged hitmen Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Nthabiseng Zandile Nzama.

The group havepleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud (defeating the ends of justice as an alternative) and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that Matlala orchestrated a series of hits, including a 2023 attempt on his former partner and influencer Tebogo Thobejane, a 2022 plot against taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyon, and a 2024 incident involving music producer Seunkie “DJ Vettys” Mokubung. Nzama, who is Mabusela’s daughter, sought permission through her lawyer Timothy Chauke to be absent from court until proceedings directly related to her charges begin.

She faces three counts of money laundering and stands accused of helping facilitate payments allegedly made by Matlala to Mabusela in connection with the attempted murders. In an affidavit read before the court, Nzama described it as “undesirable” to remain present while evidence unrelated to her charges is led by the state. She argued that the trial schedule – running until 7 August and then resuming between 31 August and 18 September – would make daily attendance unnecessarily burdensome.

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“I remain committed to standing trial, complying with every direction of this honourable court and attending whenever my present is required,” her statement reads. Nzama, currently out on R10 000 bail, also pointed to the impact on her academic work at Stadio Higher Education, where she is studying toward a bachelor of commerce honours degree. “The lengthy duration of this trial, together with the daily travel between Pretoria and Johannesburg consumes the greater part of each weekday.

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