Matlala case: Lawyer for accused 5 calls for charges to be dropped

The attorney representing one of the accused in the high-profile criminal case against alleged crime boss Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala said they believed their client had a chance of walking free.

Matlala, his wife Tsakane, and their three co-accused appeared in the Johannesburg High Court on attempted murder charges on Thursday.

The group is facing 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, linked to three separate shooting incidents allegedly committed between August 2022 and January 2024.

The court heard that accused 5, Nthabiseng Nzama, had put a hold on her pre-trial conference as her attorneys intended to have the charges against her dropped.

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According to Nzama’s newly appointed attorney, Ntombi Dina, the state's case against the 23-year-old is weak.

Nzama appeared alongside her father, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, Matlala and his wife, as well as Musa Kekana.

Nzama was accused of facilitating fund transfers related to criminal proceeds, including a failed hit on Matlala’s socialite ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane.

Dina said they had made submissions for the charges to be dropped against Nzama.

"Our position is that the state's case has very low prospects of success. So, we think that what the state has against accused number five is not sufficient to carry through to a trial. So, we are hoping that with the representations that we’ve submitted to the state, accused number five might be discharged," said Dina.

The accused were expected back in court on 18 March for a pre-trial.