Defence challenges State witness’s account in Matlala trial

The defence in the attempted murder trial of alleged underworld kingpin, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, spent Wednesday systematically challenging the credibility of the State’s first witness, questioning everything from the layout of the crime scene to whether he may have accidentally shot the alleged victim himself.

Proceedings in the Johannesburg High Court centred on the testimony of security guard, Bethwell Cele, who was on duty when taxi boss, Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, was ambushed at Centurion Golf Estate in August 2022.

Advocate Nardus Grové, representing accused number two, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, meticulously challenged Cele’s version of events using Google Maps images of the estate. He took the witness through the movements of the vehicles involved, the positions of those at the scene, the route allegedly taken by a white BMW and the location where the alleged attackers exited their vehicle before opening fire.

The defence also questioned how Cele sought cover during the exchange of gunfire and whether his recollection of distances and positions at the scene was reliable.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court ruled that photographs taken by the defence at the estate on Wednesday morning could not be used during cross-examination because they had not been properly authenticated.

The State successfully objected to their use, arguing there was no evidence establishing how, when and where the photographs had been taken.

Judge Cassim Moosa ruled that the defence could only rely on the photographs once the necessary evidential foundation had been laid.

The ruling mirrors Monday’s decision, when the court refused to allow the State to play CCTV footage before it had been authenticated by the appropriate witnesses.

Cross-examination later shifted to the exchange of gunfire, with Grové suggesting Cele could not rule out the possibility that one of the 15 rounds he fired from his service firearm struck Sibanyoni.

Cele has consistently maintained that he returned fire only after two armed men allegedly opened fire in what the State says was an attempted assassination of the taxi boss.

Grové also questioned Cele about his employment after he left Bidvest Coin Security following the incident.

Cele acknowledged that he now works for Sibanyoni, but said he is employed through another company and not directly by the taxi boss.

Matlala and his four co-accused have pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including attempted murder, fraud and money laundering, linked to three alleged hit plots between 2022 and 2024.

The charges relate to the alleged attempted hits on actress and media personality Tebogo Thobejane, taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and music producer Seun Mokubung, popularly known as DJ Vetty’s.

Cross-examination of Cele is expected to continue on Thursday as the defence continues testing the reliability of his evidence before the State calls witnesses to authenticate the CCTV footage it intends to rely on.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe