MK Party pledges sustained pressure in Vusimuzi Matlala criminal case
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.
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The Citizen
16 hours ago
- 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!
Daily Maverick
17 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Mkhwanazi's smoking guns: How two firearms could expose SA's colluding cops, a drug cartel and high-profile murders
A ballistic report allegedly linking an AK-47 and a pistol to a Transnet corruption cover-up murder, and the shootings of high-profile public figures, add weight to the KZN police commissioner's claims of a criminal octopus with tentacles reaching deep into key institutions – including law enforcement itself. An AK-47, a pistol and a deadly attempt to cover up Transnet tender corruption. This is what may lead to arrests for the shootings of several high-profile artists in Gauteng over roughly four years, and the exposure of alleged top-tier state involvement in deep-rooted organised crime in South Africa. Certain police officers say the AK-47 and the pistol are linked to the April 2024 killing in Vereeniging of engineer Armand Swart, who was shot after the company he worked for unearthed corruption related to Transnet and tenders. The guns are allegedly also linked to the shootings of several artists and may shed light on the killings of Oupa John Sefoka, better known as DJ Sumbody, and his apparent bodyguard, who went by the name of Wolter Sbusiso. Both were shot in Johannesburg in November 2022. Sefoka and Sbusiso's murders edge close to suspicions of gangsterism, drug trafficking, state corruption, extortion rackets and criminal networks embedded in private security companies and nightclubs. It appears Sbusiso once worked for a security company founded by arrested businessperson Vusi 'Cat' Matlala. Last year, Matlala was awarded a R360-million police contract that has since been terminated. News24 reported that whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, who was murdered in August 2021, had flagged Matlala over contracts linked to Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng. Last Sunday, 6 July, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that Matlala was financially supporting Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's 'political endeavours'. Mchunu has since denied knowing Matlala or receiving anything from him. 'Unprecedented' scandal Apart from those accusations, Mkhwanazi alleged during the press conference in Durban that a high-level criminal syndicate was operating in South Africa. He said it extended into the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Police Ministry, Parliament, prison officials, the judiciary and other law-enforcement authorities. Mkhwanazi, whose security has been beefed up since he made his allegations, also said that a 'drug cartel' headquartered in Gauteng was ultimately controlling the syndicate. If true, it means an internationally operating cartel, with ties to the state and the private sector, is based in the province that also houses South Africa's administrative capital, Pretoria. The unfolding crisis threatens to derail key policing operations and expose even deeper layers of corruption. It could also have an effect on political power. National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who seems to back Mkhwanazi, described the scandal as 'unprecedented' this week and said it struck at the heart of the police. President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to intervene. Bullets and ballistics So far, the saga involves high-level claims, counterclaims and smear campaign accusations – elements often used to conceal state-embedded organised crime. What cannot be refuted, however, is the body count that criminals in such circles produce, often by way of shootings. This is also where Mkhwanazi appears to be in possession of hard evidence. During his press briefing, he referred to the 2024 murder of Swart in Vereeniging. According to an earlier SAPS statement, four suspects were accused in the case, including one convicted of drug trafficking in the UK more than two decades ago, as News24 first reported. An arrest warrant was issued last month for a fifth suspect, Lucky Boitumelo Molefe. Mkhwanazi, during his press conference, referred to one of the detained suspects in the case – Tau Pule, a police officer. 'During the arrest, weapons used in the murder – an AK-47 and a pistol – along with cellphones, were confiscated,' Mkhwanazi said. A ballistics expert from the Political Killings Task Team, created in 2018, examined the firearms. Mkhwanazi said that on 30 December last year, the expert issued a ballistics report 'which linked these firearms with a number of high-profile cases – including [the shooting of] high-profile South African artists – which occurred in Gauteng dating as far back as 2021'. He did not name the artists, but he said suspects in the cases were known and decisions to prosecute them needed to be made. He also alleged that the day after the crucial ballistics report was issued, 31 December 2024, Mchunu sent out a directive to freeze the filling of vacancies in the Crime Intelligence unit and to disband the Political Killings Task Team. The disbanding, Mkhwanazi claimed, was so that Mchunu could shield politically connected members of a criminal syndicate from prosecution. Mchunu has dismissed the allegations. Shootings and 'protection' Mkhwanazi's accusations aside, the facts are that there have indeed been shootings targeting Johannesburg 'artists' – DJs and high-profile figures. For example, actress Tebogo Thobejane was wounded in a shooting in Sandton in October 2023. Among those arrested for her attempted murder is Matlala – whom Mkhwanazi has accused Mchunu of being in cahoots with. Matlala is president of the company CAT VIP Protection, according to its website. It says: 'With over 30 years experience in law enforcement, he founded CAT VIP as there was a need for elite human and asset protection in South Africa.' Aside from Thobejane's shooting, there have been other incidents in Johannesburg, such as the murders of Sefoka – DJ Sumbody – and Sbusiso. They were killed in Johannesburg in November 2022, nearly a year before Thobejane was wounded. Among those who attended Sefoka's funeral was EFF leader Julius Malema. After Mkhwanazi's press conference on Sunday, suspicions and photographs did the rounds suggesting that Sbusiso was linked to CAT VIP Protection. Daily Maverick found photos on Sbusiso's social media profiles, as well as on CAT VIP's Instagram page, showing that Sbusiso probably had worked for the company. A photo dated 2018 shows a man in company attire bearing a strong resemblance to Sbusiso, opening a car door for someone. Another photo on Sbusiso's Instagram page from 2018 shows him in a CAT VIP top, and a 2019 Facebook post shows him standing outside a black car with what appears to be a CAT VIP logo on his T-shirt. The photo is captioned: 'Waiting my principal [sic].' Gangsterism capital Other photos – interspersed with images of liquor, luxury cars, designer clothing and a Rolex watch – show Sbusiso with Sefoka. Entertainment establishments also fit into this matrix, hinting at potential dangers to patrons. Sefoka was known for the Ayepyep Lifestyle brand, which he and his business partner, Kagiso Setsetse, created. It involved two venues – the Ayepyep Lifestyle Lounge in Menlyn, Pretoria, and another in Cape Town's city centre. Daily Maverick previously reported that 28s gang boss accused Ralph Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson were involved in Ayepyep Cape Town. The venue was temporarily closed in 2023 after accusations by Setsetse that Stanfield and Johnson, its general manager, were trying to dominate it. Among the accusations Setsetse made, which Stanfield countered with claims of his own, was that Stanfield was involved in handling security at Ayepyep Cape Town. In an affidavit to police, Setsetse also alleged that gangsters targeted the venue and 'terrorised customers' after it opened in 2021. A legal settlement in 2023 led to Setsetse selling his one-third share in the business. Other shares belong to Stanfield's mother-in-law, Barbara Johnson, and to Sefoka's family. If Mkhwanazi's allegation is correct – that the AK-47 and pistol used in the Swart killing are indeed linked to other high-profile murders in Johannesburg – and if Sefoka's shooting is part of this, it merges gang suspicions with the developing policing scandal. Cartel country In the Western Cape, suspicions are rife that there are crooked cops working with gangsters. 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The drugs often entered South Africa through Durban harbour. Daily Maverick has previously reported that international traffickers prefer using this port when shipping masses of cocaine into the country. Mkhwanazi said that from Durban, drugs were transported to Gauteng where they were processed and distributed around South Africa as well as beyond the country. The critical Crime Intelligence unit crops up here. Its head, Dumisani Khumalo, and six colleagues were arrested late last month on corruption-related charges, which they deny. Mkhwanazi has implied that they were arrested with the deliberate aim of destroying Crime Intelligence. Khumalo's name previously cropped up in a cocaine scandal linked to a R200-million interception in Johannesburg in July 2021. So, too, did that of Major General Feroz Khan, the head of counterintelligence and security at Crime Intelligence. Daily Maverick previously reported that Khan was accused of defeating the ends of justice and bringing the SAPS into disrepute. This related to his presence at the 2021 cocaine bust, which had involved the arrests of police officers. But Khan, via court processes, has countered that Khumalo had used the cocaine interception to try to get rid of him because of his investigations into the abuse of secret funds, with possible links to Khumalo. Police bosses denied that Khan was being targeted for dubious reasons. According to police, the cocaine at the centre of that scandal had come from Brazil, arrived in KwaZulu-Natal and been transported to Gauteng. It was not the only consignment to move from one province to the next. This is the same route that Mkhwanazi said the alleged cartel, with ties to various state authorities and headquartered in Gauteng, was using. Further backing his assertions is what happened in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2021. Between the weekend of 5 and 8 November that year, the Hawks offices there were burgled and cocaine worth R200-million was stolen. A Hawks statement released afterwards said: 'The suspects gained entry into the building by forcing open the windows. One of the safes in the office, which were used to store exhibits, was tampered with.' Widely viewed as an inside job, the theft supports Mkhwanazi's claim that corrupt police are involved in drug trafficking. DM
IOL News
21 hours ago
- IOL News
Life sentence for father convicted of raping his daughter
A father, who raped his daughter on her sixth birthday, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Ladybrand Regional Court and his name has been permanently entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives A father who raped his daughter on at least two occasions, one of which was on her sixth birthday, will serve a lifetime behind bars. The man, who tried to evade justice and accountability when he attempted to cover his reprehensible acts, was sentenced by the Ladybrand Regional Court and his name has been permanently entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. This week, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence handed down to the 48-year-old man, who pleaded not guilty, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial. NPA spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, said the sentence reflected the NPA's unwavering commitment to combating gender-based violence (GBV) and protecting vulnerable children from heinous acts of betrayal. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'In 2020, the accused, entrusted with the care of his daughter, raped her on two separate occasions, with the first assault occurring on her sixth birthday, a day meant for celebration. The court heard harrowing details of the premeditated crime, during which the accused cleaned blood from the victim's private parts with an orange gauze bag to conceal his actions. 'In a further attempt to evade accountability, he opened a false criminal case against the victim's now-deceased stepfather, deflecting suspicion from himself. The abuse came to light through the victim's disclosure, supported by medical evidence confirming the assault, leading to the accused's arrest,' said Senokoatsane. The regional court prosecutor, Marie Yzel, presented compelling evidence, including the victim's testimony, medical reports, and a victim impact statement compiled with the assistance of a court preparation officer. 'The statement detailed the profound psychological trauma and lasting fear inflicted on the victim, now scarred by her father's betrayal. Yzel exposed the accused's calculated efforts to cover up the crime, including the false case against the stepfather, and highlighted his complete lack of remorse, which further aggravated the offence,' said Senokoatsane. In aggravation of sentence, Yzel argued that the accused's actions were malicious and premeditated, exploiting his role as a father to violate the victim's trust and dignity. Further to this, she emphasised the devastating impact of GBV within families, urging the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment under Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. The presiding magistrate delivered a scathing rebuke, and said: 'A father's sacred duty is to protect, yet this accused turned predator, inflicting unspeakable harm on his child.' The NPA commended the extraordinary courage of the young victim, whose disclosure, supported by meticulous police work, secured this conviction. The Free State Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Navilla Somaru, praised Yzel and investigating officer Tshepo Olebile for their relentless dedication. 'This sentence sends a resolute message: the NPA will pursue predators who target children with the full might of the law, ensuring justice restores dignity.' The NPA's collaboration with Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) provided critical psychosocial support to the victim, reflecting its victim-centric approach. The NPA urged families and communities to remain vigilant, report abuse promptly, and support survivors through TCCs, which offer medical, psychological, and legal assistance. 'This case underscores the devastating impact of familial GBV and the critical role of survivors' voices in achieving justice. The NPA calls on South Africans to unite against the scourge of GBV, fostering safe environments where children are protected, and their constitutional rights to dignity and privacy are upheld,' said Senokoatsane.
