The Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday, 20 April 2026, postponed the case against alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four co-accused to 13 May 2026, while also granting Matlala’s application to remain at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre ahead of the pre-trial proceedings.
Matlala and his co-accused face 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder stemming from three separate shooting incidents between August 2022 and January 2024.
The case has been subject to persistent delays over several months as both sides dispute the disclosure of evidence and readiness for a formal pre-trial hearing.
The charges and the alleged plot
The State alleges that Matlala and his co-accused opened fire on Tebogo Thobejane and other complainants on multiple occasions, and that those involved subsequently laundered more than R120,000 connected to the alleged murder plot.
Prosecutors further allege that a fraudulent invoice was submitted in an attempt to conceal the origin of the funds and mislead the court.
Co-accused in the matter are Matlala’s wife, Tsakane Matlala, a businesswoman named Nthabiseng Nzama, and two alleged hitmen. In late March 2026, the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that it had rejected Nzama’s representations to have the money laundering charges against her dropped, meaning she will stand trial alongside the other accused.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed the postponement in a statement on Monday, noting that the matter came before court amid ongoing disputes between the prosecution and defence over evidence disclosure.
The defence has also sought to compel the State to provide further particulars relating to the charges.
“The accused face 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, and the State is ready to proceed to trial on all charges as they stand,” the National Prosecuting Authority said in its court statement on Monday.
The NPA has consistently opposed any reduction or withdrawal of charges since the case was enrolled in the Pretoria courts.
Prison placement dispute resolved for now
Matlala’s legal team had argued that keeping him at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria would allow for easier consultation between Matlala and his lawyers ahead of trial.
The court granted this application on Monday, a decision that the defence described as practical and necessary given the volume and complexity of the forthcoming proceedings.
The matter has previously attracted criticism from the presiding judge over delays in reaching the pre-trial conference stage.
Matlala, who is alleged to have operated as a prominent figure in organised crime networks in Gauteng, has been denied bail and remains in custody.
The case against Matlala first came to public attention through investigative reporting linking him to a web of businesspeople, alleged hitmen, and financial transactions connected to violent incidents.
Airtime vouchers and CCTV footage are among the evidence the State intends to place before the court, according to reporting by TimesLIVE.
The matter returns to the Pretoria High Court on 13 May 2026, at which point the defence is expected to bring further applications relating to evidence disclosure.
The State has indicated it is ready to proceed to trial.
