Defence witness delays push Matlala attempted-murder trial to Thursday

The unavailability of defence witnesses has forced a further delay in the attempted-murder trial involving alleged underworld figure, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four co-accused, with proceedings now set to resume on Thursday.

The Johannesburg High Court heard on Monday that accused number five, Musa Kekana, would be unavailable to continue with the trial on Tuesday as he is writing an examination. The defence also informed the court that another witness, Dr Du Toit, would only be available to testify remotely on Thursday at 14h00.

“Your matter then is postponed back to the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division Johannesburg, sitting at the High Court Johannesburg, court number 4F, to Thursday, the 5th day of November 2026, at 14:00 hours, or soon thereafter as the matter shall be heard,” Judge Cassim Moosa said.

The postponement comes as the court continues hearing a trial-within-a-trial examining allegations that police assaulted and suffocated Kekana with a plastic bag during his arrest in April 2024.

Earlier on Monday, the State continued questioning forensic pathologist, Professor Gert Saayman, about Kekana’s medical condition following his arrest, particularly whether alcohol consumption could have contributed to his hospital admission.

The court heard that hospital records referred to alcohol poisoning during an earlier admission, while Kekana had also testified that he consumed a bottle of Hennessy on the night before his arrest.

However, Saayman maintained that the available medical records were insufficient to establish alcohol intoxication as the cause of Kekana’s hospital admission.

The forensic pathologist previously told the court that Kekana’s clinical presentation, including coughing up blood shortly after the alleged assault, was consistent with his account of being assaulted and suffocated by police.

The defence is challenging the admissibility of evidence obtained following Kekana’s arrest, arguing that it was obtained through an unlawful assault.

Matlala and his four co-accused face 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, fraud and money laundering.

Proceedings are expected to resume on Thursday, when the defence is scheduled to present further evidence in the trial-within-a-trial.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe