By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The case against Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his co‑accused has been postponed in the Johannesburg High Court to 7 May 2026 to allow the State to provide further disclosure.
Matlala, his wife, and their three co-accused appeared in the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday morning, 18 March 2026.
During the proceedings on Wednesday, Prosecutor Elize le Roux told the court that the state required additional time to finalise disclosures and requested postponement.
She also told the court that Nthabiseng Nzama’s representations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) – a process allowing accused individuals to request reconsideration of charges – were still pending.
“There are certain aspects that are raised in the representations that we need to investigate further,” Le Roux said.
She added that the state needed two weeks to complete the process.
Le Roux also attributed the repeated delays to the defence, citing the filing of representations and a change of legal representation.
However, Judge William Karam expressed dissatisfaction, highlighting that he had intended for all pre-trial issues to be finalised before the end of the judiciary’s first term on 27 March 2026.
The defence has warned that if the prosecution fails to deliver complete evidence, they will seek a court order to compel disclosure, stressing that full access to the State’s case is crucial for a fair trial.
Advocate Annelene van den Heever emphasised that the police and prosecution have a duty to gather and disclose all relevant evidence.
“That docket should include everything that is needed for a trial.”
Van den Heever warned that the defence could bring a section 342A application, which addresses unreasonable delays in criminal proceedings, arguing that the ongoing case was prejudicing her clients.
She also indicated that the defence intends to petition the Judge President of the Gauteng High Court, or the deputy, to secure an expedited trial date.
Matlala faces a string of serious charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud and defeating the ends of justice, linked to incidents that unfolded in Johannesburg between 12 and 17 October 2023.
He is accused of plotting the murder of his socialite girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, and two other complainants. His co-accused – wife Tsakani Matlala, Nthabiseng Nzama, Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela – are also charged alongside Katiso “KT” Molefe over the April 2024 murder of Q Tech engineer Armand Swart in Vereeniging.