Matlala’s lawyer says delays prejudicing her client

The trial-within-a-trial in the case against alleged underworld figureVusimusi “Cat” Matlalaand his co-accused was postponed on Tuesday after the state said it was unable to call its next witnesses. The state revealed this shortly after Tactical Response Team officer Lt-Col Tumelo Tsotetsi completed his testimony. Tsotetsi concluded several days of evidence during which defence counsel repeatedly confronted him over differences between his version and that of fellow state witness Capt Phimi Sekgobela regarding the 2024 arrest of Matlala’s co-accusedMusa Kekana.

He was arrested following the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart. Kekana, Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and his daughter Nthabiseng Nzama and Kekana, are facing 25 charges including money laundering, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder. Under cross-examination by Kekana’s lawyer Adv Riaan Gissing, Tsotetsi was questioned about why the statement he made two days after the arrest, omitted any reference to Sekgobela informing Kekana of his constitutional rights.

Tsotetsi acknowledged the omission but maintained the rights had been explained verbally. “I did not include it in my statement that he explained the rights, but as a person who was there next to him when he was doing it, I know that he explained the rights,” he said. Gissing argued that such an important detail would have appeared in the statement if it had happened.

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Tsotetsi responded that constitutional rights are explained verbally at the scene before written notices are completed later at the police station. Proceedings then shifted to the state’s application for a postponement after prosecutor Elize le Roux said the state could not proceed because a paramedic who treated Kekana was dealing with a family emergency. Le Roux also said they still had to consult Dr Paniker, who treated Kekana, before deciding whether to call her to court.

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