Judgment looms in ‘Cat’ Matlala bail appeal

The Johannesburg High Court is expected to deliver judgment in controversial businessman, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s, bail appeal either on Friday or Monday.

Matlala turned to the High Court on Monday after the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court denied him bail last month, citing concerns that he might flee or interfere with witnesses.

The 49-year-old tenderpreneur is accused of orchestrating the failed assassination of his former girlfriend, media personality Tebogo Thobejane, in 2023 — a shooting that left Thobejane wounded in the foot and her friend with a serious spinal injury.

Matlala has denied all allegations.

A packed courtroom gathered on Monday as both sides argued over whether he should be granted bail. The State maintained that Matlala remains a flight risk, while his lawyer, Laurence Hodes, insisted that he has cooperated fully with police since December 2024 — even allowing them full access to his property.

Hodes also dismissed State claims that Matlala owns a private jet and a boat, calling the allegations baseless and unproven.

Meanwhile, the State has conceded that its case against, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, currently rests on circumstantial evidence — but stressed that ongoing investigations and the centralisation of several related dockets could strengthen their case.

Prosecutors revealed that it intends to charge Matlala with 11 counts of attempted murder once the cases are centralised.

These include the January 2024 Pretoria West shooting of DJ Vettys, which carries three attempted murder charges, and a 2022 Lyttelton case linked to the killing of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni, which carries five more counts. Sibanyoni was gunned down outside Centurion Golf Estate.

The State told the court that it is awaiting final authorisation from the National Director of Public Prosecutions before proceeding.

State Prosecutor, Elize Le Roux, argued argued that Matlala’s failure to disclose foreign assets and alleged efforts to mislead investigators show he is not a suitable candidate for bail.

Le Roux also confirmed that police conducted a warrantless search and seizure at Matlala’s home in December 2024, after intelligence suggested a kidnapping victim might be held there. No victim was found, but firearms were confiscated after it emerged that some of Matlala’s bodyguards were unlicensed.

Matlala’s legal team has since proposed R100,000 bail, suggesting that he be placed under house arrest and grant police full access to his home surveillance cameras as part of his bail conditions.

They also recommended that he be restricted from leaving Gauteng.

Despite the State’s opposition, defence lawyer Laurence Hodes argued that Matlala is being unfairly targeted, insisting the allegations are based on speculation rather than fact.

The Johannesburg High Court has confirmed that its judgment will be delivered electronically — not in open court — later this week.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe