Alleged crime boss Matlala to remain in Pretoria prison ahead of pre-trial

Alleged crime boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala will spend the next few days at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria and not the super-maximum facility in Kokstad.

Matlala, his wife Tsakane, and his three co-accused returned to the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday morning on attempted murder charges.

They are accused of calling three botched hits, one of them being an attempt on the life of Matlala’s socialite ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane.

Their matter has been postponed to later this month for pre-trial proceedings.

The Johannesburg High Court has heard that Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has been kept at the Kgosi Mampuru prison for the past week since his last appearance.

Upon hearing that Matlala was taken back to the Ebongweni Super-Maximum Prison, Judge William Karam asked his lawyer, Advocate Annelin van den Heever, about his incarceration.

"He has not been taken back to Kokstad—he is not being taken back to Kokstad yet. He is still here to enable us to deal with all the outstanding issues and to prepare to finalise the pre-trial."

READ: High Court permits 'Cat' Matlala to physically consult with his lawyers

Van den Heever says it seems Correctional Services decided to keep Matlala at Kgosi Mampuru prison because the dates of his court appearances were so close to each other.

She says Matlala is set to see a medical practitioner next week.

The court has ordered the head of the prison at Kgosi Mampuru to allow Matlala to consult with his lawyers with ease, with no obstruction.