Latest news with #Vusimuzi'Cat'Matlala
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
MK Party pledges sustained pressure in Vusimuzi Matlala criminal case
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has vowed to put pressure on the criminal justice system following the court appearance of businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and his co-accused at the Alexandra Magistrate Court on July 11. The two face charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering, stemming from an alleged assassination attempt on Matlala's former partner, actress Tebogo Thobejane, in 2023. Speaking on the sidelines, MK Gauteng spokesperson Abel Tau expressed concern over procedural lapses in the case, noting that the defence is relying on loopholes in how the state is handling the case. During the court proceedings, the defence argued that Matlala's bank statements were accessed, but they did not get a Section 205 subpoena for those statements. Also read: Watch | Alexandra Magistrate's court postpones case against Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and co-accused 'They have spoken about Section 205, whether or not it's there, and you would know that if it is not there, it means the evidence collected may not be admissible in court because it might have been collected illegally,' Tau stressed. He also expressed concerns about the alleged collection of evidence in the absence of legal representation. This followed the defence's argument that while Matlala signed a consent form granting permission for his cellphone to be accessed, this was done in the absence of his attorney. 'They have questioned the collection of the evidence of the accused in the absence of their lawyer, which, for me again, is an elementary mistake the NPA should not be doing… We cannot afford to have the NPA found wanting when dealing with alleged criminals of this stature,' he shared. He stressed that the state needs to use this opportunity to set a precedent on how it fights against violent crime in South Africa. The MK Party vowed to maintain pressure throughout the trial. Tau confirmed that they will come in numbers on the next court date on August 26. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
24 hours in pictures, 11 July 2025
24 hours in pictures, 11 July 2025 Through the lens: The Citizen's Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world. People visit the blooming lavender fields in Brihuega, Guadalajara, Spain, 10 July 2025. The town has developed a tourist and cultural festival around its purple fields. Picture: EPA/FERNANDO VILLAR People walk in the Emmarentia Park as winter mist covers the frost that envelopes the area in the morning, in Johannesburg, South Africa, 11 July 2025. Winter temperatures drops to well below zero degrees Celsius at nights as Johannesburg sits at 1750m above sea level. This combined with low winter temperatures causes the frost layers through out the city. Picture: EPA/KIM LUDBROOK Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and his wife Tsakani Matlala appear at Alexandra Magistrate's Court on July 11, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The controversial tenderpreneur faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering after he allegedly orchestrated a hit on his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo) A model presents a creation from the Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 collection by Swiss designer Kevin Germanier for his label Germanier during Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, 10 July 2025. The presentation of the women's collections runs from 07 to 11 July 2025. Picture: EPA/TERESA SUAREZ Players in action during the Swamp Soccer Championships 2025 in Hyrynsalmi, Finland, 11 July 2025. The World Championship in swamp football is played annually on Vuorisuo bog in Hyrynsalmi. Picture: EPA/TOMI HANNINEN A shack destroyed by fire in Olievenhoutbosch on July 11, 2025 in Centurion, South Africa. It is reported that a family of five died during a shack fire. It is not clear what caused the fire. (Photo by Gallo Images/Lefty Shivambu) Argentinian singer Nathy Peluso performs live on the first day of the NOS Alive Festival, in Oeiras, outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal, 10 July 2025. The three-day festival runs until 12 July. Picture: EPA/JOSE SENA GOULAO MK supporters protest outside Alexandra Magistrate's Court during the court appearance of Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala on July 11, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The controversial tenderpreneur faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering after he allegedly orchestrated a hit on his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo) The Loskop Dam photographed on July 11, 2025 about 50 km outside Middelburg, South Africa. The dam, which was completed in 1939 has historical significance for both its engineering design and the contribution it has had in the development of agricultural industries in the area. The dam also contributes significantly to provincial tourism. Loskpo Dam is the second most upstream on the Olifants river and located in the Southern region of the river's catchment area. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sydney Seshibedi) Mourners gather around the coffin of late face mask vendor Boniface Mwangi Kariuki during his burial as part of the funeral in Iyego village, Kangema, Murang'a County, Kenya, 11 July 2025. Kariuki was shot by police on 17 June 2025 during protests over the death of a Kenyan blogger in police custody. He died two weeks later while receiving treatment. Picture: EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU People pose for photographs with an art installation entitled 'Cathedral of Sound' by Lazerian, in Manchester, northern England on July 11, 2025, ahead of the second leg of British rock band Oasis' highly-anticipated continuing reunion tour. The return of the prodigal Oasis brothers to Manchester Friday — on the second leg of their highly-anticipated reunion tour — has rekindled memories of the city's time as a cultural epicentre. Returning to their roots for five sold-out shows at the northwestern city's Heaton Park, the famous brothers have definitely created 'a buzz around the place', said Susan O'Shea, music expert and senior lecturer in sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) People gather among gravestones at the memorial cemetery in the village of Potocari, near the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica, on July 11, 2025, on the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. Thousands of people have gathered in Srebrenica on July 11 to commemorate the genocide committed 30 years ago by Bosnian Serb forces, one of Europe's worst atrocities since World War II. The remains of seven victims of the massacre have been laid to rest during Friday's commemorations, marking the bloodiest episode of Bosnia's inter-ethnic war in the 1990s. On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serb forces captured the eastern Bosnian town, a UN-protected enclave at the time, and killed more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the following days. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) MORE: 24 hours in pictures, 10 July 2025
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
The man at the centre of the Mkhwanazi, Mchunu storm: Who is Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala?
Vusimuzi 'Cat ' Matlala's once a wealthy government contractor, is now at the center of a criminal syndicate probe involving top politicians, assassination plots, illegal firearms, and a growing national scandal. He's 49, flamboyant, allegedly corrupt, and rolling in multimillion-rand tenders - Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, but who is he? Known for his flamboyant lifestyle and multimillion-rand state tenders, Matlala has recently become a central figure in explosive allegations of fraud, violent crime, and high-level corruption. Matlala rose to prominence through a series of lucrative contracts with the South African government. In 2024, his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, secured a R360 million contract to provide health services to South African Police Service (SAPS) employees. According to internal documents, the deal generated over R48 million in profits before being abruptly cancelled by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. Masemola cited procurement irregularities and alleged that the contract was awarded under questionable circumstances. The SAPS has since launched a full-scale investigation. His business activities came under further scrutiny when Matlala's name was linked to the Tembisa Hospital scandal, one of the biggest corruption sagas in Gauteng's health system. The scandal, which was brought to light by whistleblower Babita Deokaran before her assassination in 2021, involved nearly R3 billion in allegedly fraudulent payments. Forensic audits have shown multiple tenders connected to Matlala's network flagged as suspicious. In May 2025, Matlala was arrested and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to kill, stemming from a 2023 plot to assassinate his former partner, actress and entrepreneur Tebogo Thobejane. Evidence presented by investigators includes WhatsApp messages in which Matlala allegedly ordered the hitman to 'shoot her in the face so that her family does not recognise her.' His wife, Tsakani Matlala, was also arrested in connection with the plot. Police raids conducted on his property uncovered unlicensed firearms, a R200,000 Rolex watch, and documents linking Matlala to a private security company, CAT VIP Protection, which authorities believe served as a front for broader criminal activities.
