Matlala trial | Defence says one of two police officer witnesses is lying under oath

The defence has placed two police officers at the centre of a credibility clash in the attempted murder trial of alleged underworld figure, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, suggesting that either Sergeant Maesela Ledwaba or Captain Phimi Sekgobela is lying under oath.

The accusation was levelled during the cross-examination of Ledwaba in the trial-within-a-trial at the Johannesburg High Court on Friday, where the defence is challenging evidence linked to the arrest of Matlala’s co-accused, Musa Kekana.

Kekana’s lawyer, Advocate Riaan Gissing, repeatedly questioned Ledwaba about his movements with Sekgobela on 17 April 2024 and his ability to remember events that happened more than two years ago.

Ledwaba testified on Friday that Sekgobela picked him up in Benoni that morning and that he drove Sekgobela’s white Golf 7 GTI. He said the two officers were the only occupants.

But under cross-examination, Ledwaba was unable to provide specific details about the journey or conversations between the officers.

He could not give an exact or approximate time for a telephone call he overheard Sekgobela making, saying he could only remember that they were travelling on the N12.

Ledwaba was also unable to identify which N12 off-ramp they were near, how long the journey took or what time they arrived at their destination.

The credibility dispute comes amid wider contradictions over the circumstances surrounding Kekana’s arrest.

Kekana alleges that he was handcuffed and placed in the boot of a Toyota Fortuner after being arrested at 8th Road in Bramley, before being transported to his home in 5th Road.

Police, however, maintain that Kekana was transported in a Golf 7.

Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) data has also come under scrutiny.

According to the tracking report, police vehicles arrived at 8th Road shortly before 9am on 17 April 2024 and only left the area shortly after midday.

The tracking data appears to contradict Ledwaba’s evidence that police left the scene within minutes of arriving.

The defence has also accused Ledwaba of being brought into the case at a late stage to protect Sekgobela and corroborate his version of events.

Advocate, Annelene van der Heever, put it to Ledwaba that he was effectively brought in to cover for his fellow officer.

Ledwaba denied the allegation, saying Sekgobela had contacted him after receiving an instruction from the prosecutor to provide a statement.

The questioning forms part of a trial-within-a-trial examining the circumstances surrounding Kekana’s arrest and whether evidence obtained from it should be admitted in the main trial.

The State’s version of the arrest, conflicting accounts from police officers and the vehicle-tracking data are now key areas of scrutiny as the defence attempts to undermine the reliability of the evidence.

Matlala, his wife Tsakane and three co-accused are on trial for the attempted murder of three people.

They face 25 charges, including attempted murder, fraud and money laundering, and have pleaded not guilty.

The charges relate to alleged hit plots targeting socialite Tebogo Thobejane, businessman Joe Sibanyoni and music producer Seunkie “DJ Vettys” Mokubung.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe