Latest news with #Matlala
The Citizen
4 days 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!
Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Politics
- 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. This, in turn, ties into the drug trade. For a long time, there have been suspicions in policing circles that figures based in Gauteng import narcotics and pump them through South Africa, with a special focus on Western Cape gangs that act as conduits. Specific suspicions involve luxury vehicles and drug consignments being exchanged between the provinces. There are also long-standing beliefs that politicians and individuals with state ties are benefiting from the illicit trade. Mkhwanazi, during his press conference, made allegations in this regard. A presentation he shared said an investigation involving police officers from KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng had 'unmasked the syndicate which involves Politicians, Law Enforcement (SAPS, Metro Police & Correctional Services), Prosecutors, Judiciary and controlled by Drug cartel as well as Business People'. Mkhwanazi explained that this alleged cartel was headquartered in Gauteng and importing drugs from South America. 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
The South African
5 days ago
- The South African
Step aside Thabo Bester! Vusi Matlala and wife wear Gucci to court
Flamboyant businessman Vusi Matlala is giving Thabo Bester a run for his money after appearing at the Alexandria Magistrates Court wearing a Gucci suit worth over R100 000. The 'tenderpreneur', his wife Tsakani, and two others are facing charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering. Like Bester and his co-accused Nandipha Magudumana, Matlala and his wife are also awaiting trial. On Friday, Vusi Matlala, his wife Tsakani, and their co-accused appeared in the Alexandria Magistrates Court relating to charges of a 2023 attempted hit on his ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane. The case has been remanded to 26 August. Appearing before the court, Vusi Matlala wore a navy and pink Gucci monogrammed pinstripe suit, which retails for around $6 000 (R107 000). His wife Tsakani wore a grey skirt suit with matching Gucci spectacles and a Louis Vuitton belt. Like Thabo Bester's recent appearance, Matlala also sported a clean-shaven look with edgy, black glasses. Similarly to Bester – who has also worn high-fashion designers, Louis Vuitton and Burberry to court – the couple are known for their lavish lifestyles, flashy cars, and designer clothes. Matlala has been hailed as a ' tenderpreneur' for allegedly fraudulently acquiring multi-million rand government deals thanks to his high-ranking contacts. Thabo Bester and Vusi Matlala are fellow inmates at Kgosi Mampuru prison. Images via X In his previous appearance, Matlala wore a black and white Alexander McQueen jersey, no doubt showing off his wealth. Earlier this week, Correctional Services National Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale, confirmed that Thabo Bester and Vusi Matlala are inmates at Kgosi Mampuru's C-Max prison in Pretoria. Matlala was recently transferred to Kgosi Mampuru's C-Max after he was discovered in possession of a cellphone over the weekend. In 2023, Thabo Bester was also transferred to the maximum security facility after his prison escape from Magaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein a year earlier. During his incarceration, Bester unlawfully used the cellphones and laptops in his cell. In a follow-up raid this week, Matlala shared his concerns with the National Commissioner about his designer belongings. Thobakgale said of Matlala's complaints: 'He knows how he needs to channel the request. The same with Thabo Bester, he made a request. And the last time I was here, he submitted something to me in writing.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Tebogo Thobejane botched hit case: ‘Cat' and co-accused appear in court
The high-profile case against Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, his wife Tsakani Matlala, Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela has been postponed to August 26. According to Alex News, this follows their brief appearance in the Alexandra Magistrate's Court today on charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering. The charges are linked to a botched assassination attempt on Matlala's former partner, actress Tebogo Thobejane. Magistrate Rennie Boshoff announced the postponement after the defence raised concerns about incomplete disclosure of case documents. The defence argued the state had only partially disclosed the docket while withholding critical documents, such as Matlala's bank statements. They accused the state of attempting to ambush them and requested full disclosure to prepare their case adequately. Boshoff said their request would be granted. The request for the crucial documents centres on allegations that Matlala transferred over R100 000 from his business account to the account of someone linked to Mabusela. A significant portion of that money was later funnelled to Mabusela himself. To disguise the payment, the accused allegedly fabricated a fraudulent funeral parlour invoice to convince police the money Mabusela received was for his mother's funeral, when it was allegedly intended to finance the hit on Thobejane. The attempt on Thobejane's life took place on the N1 highway near Sandton in 2023. At the time, Thobejane and her friend were driving when they were ambushed, and their car was shot multiple times. Her friend was wounded. Kekana and Mabusela were released on a warning. Tsakani, who in May was added to the charge sheet as accused number four, was released on R20 000 bail in the same month. Matlala remains in custody. Watch the video: Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Matlala court case: ‘We will be watching this one closely' says MK party
Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Sunday on concerns about the country's security. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party says it will be keeping a close eye on the legal proceedings against controversial businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. Matlala is in the spotlight following explosive revelations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, this week. Mkhwanazi claimed that Matlala is part of a plot that led to the disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team. It is alleged that Matlala, through businessman Brown Mogotsi, has been able to influence the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu, into doing his bidding. The MK party was protesting outside the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Friday, where Matlala and his co-accused appeared in connection with the attempted murder of actress Tebogo Thobejane. He reportedly appeared under heavy police guard. 'Mr Matlala faces very serious cases, and we have just had a spate of botched cases by the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority], so we will be watching this one closely', he said. The wheels of justice must move on Matlala Tau said ordinary South Africans are victims of a network of corruption that allegedly involves prosecutors, police, judges, and politicians in parliament. 'So, as members of the MK party led by the caucus leader of our legislature caucus, we are here to say to our courts that we are calling for justice for the victims of the many crimes of those who believe that they can do criminality with impunity. 'We believe that Mr Matlala must be treated like any other criminal. We also believe that a thorough investigation must be done so that we do not have botched cases. 'The people of South Africa find themselves in a space where no one fights for them. They (NPA) must go into this without fear or favour,' he said. ALSO READ: Charges laid against Mchunu as pressure mounts on Ramaphosa to act amid national security concerns Matlala's alleged plot to kill Thobejane It is still not clear why Matlala allegedly ordered a hit on Thobejane. However, it has been reported that the two are former lovers. Thobejane was shot in the foot and survived the hit. This incident occurred in 2023. This matter was postponed to allow the NPA to consolidate Matlala's other cases. He was arrested in May this year and has been held at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. NOW READ: Senzo Mchunu investigation will take longer to finalise, says Public Protector
