Businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who appeared alongside his co-accused, will have to wait until next Tuesday to hear if he will be eligible for bail.

Matlala is accused of allegedly orchestrating a hit on his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, who was shot while driving home from a Sandton lounge in October 2023. The accused face charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering.

The 49-year-old Pretoria businessman is currently being held at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre’s C-Max unit with multiple dockets linking him to several alleged crimes.

On Tuesday, Matlala appeared alongside three other accused, including his wife, Tsakani Matlala, at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court for his bail application, with their matter postponed to October 7 to centralise their multiple dockets emanating from various jurisdictions.

Speaking outside court, National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane indicated that the State will oppose Matlala’s bail application while investigations by the State continue.

“We have requested a postponement, which was granted to us, and the case has been postponed to the 7th of October. This is to ensure the finalisation of the centralisation application by the State. Mr Matlala will be returning to court on September 2 as he wants to apply for bail. As the State, we intend to oppose such an application,” Mjonondwane stated.

Mjonondwane said that the State wants to ensure that all the dockets linking Matlala and his co-accused are centralised within one jurisdiction, which is why the State has filed such an application.

“Seven different dockets are emanating from various court jurisdictions. Two of the dockets are from Orlando, two others are from Pretoria, two from Sandton, and one is from the Vaal. This means that we have applied for all these dockets to be heard in one jurisdiction,” she said.

IOL had previously reported that Matlala was arrested in Midrand on May 14 following what police described as a high-profile investigation. 

Furthermore, it is reported that he was behind the alleged hit attempt on Thobejane and helped clean millions in dirty money.

In May 2025, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola cancelled a contract, stating that Matlala’s firm should not have progressed beyond the initial bidding stage.

Matlala, his wife, Tsakani Matlala, and the alleged hitmen are linked to the 2023 attempted hit on his ex-girlfriend (Thobejane), with a fifth suspect, identified as the daughter of one of the alleged hitmen, having been recently added to the case on money laundering charges.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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