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

The Johannesburg High Court has handed down an order to allow alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to physically consult with his lawyers.

Matlala, his wife, Tsakane, and their three co-accused returned to the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday.

The court received an update on the readiness for pre-trial proceedings and a request from Matlala’s lawyers for easier access to him for consultation.

Matlala,Tsakane, alleged hitmen Musa Kekana and Tiego Mabusela and his daughter Ntabiseng Nzama face 25 charges in connection with three botched hits between August 2022 and January 2024.

During Matlala’s last court appearance his lawyers complained about the conditions at the Ebongweni super maxim security prison where he was transferred to in December.

But they informed the court that he has been held at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria since his last court appearance last week.

Matlala’s lawyer Advocate Anneline van den Heever told the court that she has still experienced challenges when trying to consult with him at c-max and requested that the court allow that he be brought to the Johannesburg high court on Friday for consultation.

But Judge William Karam handed down a judgement to make consultation easier at the Kgosi Mampuru prison.

Matlala and his co accused are due back in the high court on the 26th of February for a pre-trial hearing, but his lawyers have told the court that if they run into any challenges affecting their readiness, they will inform the state prosecutors