'Cat' Matlala is eager 'to prove his innocence', lawyers tell High Court

Lawyers for alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala have told the Johannesburg High Court that he is eager for the trial to go ahead so he can prove his innocence.

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

They are accused of planning and executing three botched hits, including one on Matlala’s socialite ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane.

Over the last court appearances Matlala’s lawyers have repeated how eager the alleged crime boss is to prove his innocence.

On Thursday, his advocate, Anneline van den Heever repeated this as she asked the court to allow Matlala to be brought to the Johannesburg High Court on Monday and Tuesday consult without any restrictions.

“My client wishes this trial to go ahead. He is innocent and he wants to prove his innocence in court, and in order for us to do that we need to be ready to proceed with the trial.”

But instead, Judge William Karam has ordered the head of the Kgoši Mampuru II Correctional Centre, in Pretoria, to allow Matlala to consult with his lawyers without any obstruction.

Meanwhile, the court also heard that Matlala will stay at the facility and not eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility where he was transferred to in December.