Matlala Trial | Judge dismisses Kekana lawyer’s objection over hospital security evidence

The Johannesburg High Court has dismissed an objection by Musa Kekana’s lawyer after Judge Cassim Moosa questioned evidence surrounding the accused’s hospital admission and security arrangements following his arrest.

The objection was raised on Wednesday as the court heard that hospital staff had requested increased security around Kekana after suspecting that he might attempt to escape while under police guard.

Kekana was admitted to Edenvale Government Hospital shortly after his arrest in Bramley in 2024.

The defence alleges that he began coughing up blood after police suffocated him with a courier bag during a raid at his home.

The issue arose during questioning by Matlala’s lawyer, Advocate Anneline van den Heever.

Van den Heever suggested that Kekana had expressed fears that he could be forcibly removed from Edenvale Government Hospital.

She put this version to the State’s latest witness, Dr Ziphelele Mazibuko, who examined Kekana following his admission.

But Mazibuko told the court that it was hospital staff who had requested increased security around Kekana.

She said nurses were concerned that Kekana may have been planning to leave the hospital while under police guard.

The evidence prompted Judge Moosa to seek clarification on documents relating to Kekana’s hospital admission and the circumstances surrounding his condition.

Kekana’s lawyer, Riaan Gissing, objected to the judge’s questioning, arguing that Moosa was overstepping his role by asking questions and and effectively entering the arena.

But the judge dismissed the objection, saying the documents being questioned had been placed before the court by Kekana’s own legal representatives and could not be selectively ignored.

Mazibuko’s evidence also focused on Kekana’s medical condition following his arrest.

She testified that after examining him over a two-day period, she found that his coughing up blood may have been worsened by suffocation.

The doctor also corroborated earlier evidence that Kekana had previously been admitted to hospital and intubated following a suspected case of food poisoning.

Mazibuko is testifying in a trial-within-a-trial examining whether evidence obtained during Kekana’s 2024 arrest can be admitted in the main trial.

Kekana is on trial alongside alleged underworld figure, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, and three others in connection with alleged attempted hit plots targeting taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, Matlala’s former girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, and music producer Seunkie “DJ Vetteys” Mokubung between August 2022 and January 2024.

They face charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, money laundering, and the illegal possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

All five accused have pleaded not guilty.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe