The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it is ready to proceed with the high-profile attempted murder trial of alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused, with proceedings set to begin on 20 July 2026 in the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg.
The confirmation on Tuesday follows months of delays, with the State now indicating that the legal representation of co-accused Musa Kekana has been finalised after his legal team informed prosecutors they had secured the necessary funding to proceed.
Matlala, Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, Tsakani Matlala and Zandile Nzama face 25 criminal charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, linked to three separate shooting incidents allegedly carried out between August 2022 and January 2024.
According to the NPA, the accused are alleged to have orchestrated the shootings, laundered proceeds linked to an alleged criminal enterprise and used a fraudulent invoice to disguise the origin of the money and mislead the court.
NPA Gauteng spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole said the prosecution is fully prepared to present its case.
“The National Prosecuting Authority remains committed to presenting its case before the court and is confident that the evidence to be led during the trial will assist the court in reaching a just outcome,” Mohlatlole said.
The High Court also directed the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions to decide by 11 July on representations submitted by Nzama after an earlier application was rejected by the Johannesburg Director of Public Prosecutions.
Accused one, two and three remain behind bars, while the bail of accused four and five has been extended pending trial.
The attempted murder prosecution comes as Matlala is already facing mounting legal troubles in a separate corruption matter that has gripped the country.
Only days ago, Matlala pleaded guilty in the R360 million Medicare24 corruption case, entering into a plea and sentence agreement with the State. The case centres on a controversial South African Police Service (SAPS) health services tender that was initially advertised at about R360 million, before being reduced to roughly R228 million. Around R50 million had already been paid before the contract was ultimately cancelled.
The plea agreement marked a dramatic turn in one of South Africa’s biggest corruption investigations, with Matlala admitting to criminal conduct as part of a deal with prosecutors. The agreement is expected to strengthen the State’s broader investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the lucrative police contract.
Despite that development, the attempted murder case remains entirely separate and involves allegations that Matlala and his associates planned and financed violent attacks over an extended period.
Prosecutors allege sophisticated financial transactions were used to conceal the movement of money linked to the alleged crimes, with fraudulent documentation allegedly created to hide the source of the funds.
The case has attracted intense public attention because of Matlala’s alleged links to politically connected individuals and his growing list of criminal prosecutions.
If the trial proceeds as scheduled later this month, it is expected to feature extensive evidence relating to the alleged shootings, financial records and testimony aimed at proving the existence of an organised criminal enterprise.
The State has maintained throughout the proceedings that it has assembled a strong case and is ready to place its evidence before the court.
With Matlala now having admitted guilt in the Medicare24 corruption matter while simultaneously preparing to stand trial on multiple attempted murder charges, July is shaping up to be one of the most significant months in the legal battles facing the controversial businessman. The outcome of both matters could have far-reaching implications for several ongoing criminal investigations linked to him and his associates.
