Cat Matlala hitman trial: Johannesburg High Court hears key evidence

• The Johannesburg High Court is holding a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of key evidence against Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and his co-accused.
• Captain Phimi Sekgobela, a state witness, has testified that he arrested Musa Kekana in April 2024 for his alleged involvement in Armand Swart's murder.
• The trial is being held under the Criminal Procedure Act, which allows for a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of certain evidence.

Prosecutors claim that firearms found during Kekana's arrest link him to several attempted assassinations allegedly ordered by Matlala.

The Johannesburg High Court is currently holding a trial within a trial in the case against alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and his co-accused. This special hearing will determine whether key evidence collected during the arrest of Musa Kekana, an alleged hitman linked to Matlala, can be used against them. The outcome is crucial as it could affect some of the state's strongest evidence. Prosecutors claim that firearms found during Kekana's arrest link him to several attempted assassinations allegedly ordered by Matlala. However, Kekana has denied being the driver of a Hyundai i20 believed to have been used in one of the murders.

Captain Phimi Sekgobela, a state witness, has given evidence against Matlala and his co-accused. Sekgobela told the court that he arrested Kekana in April 2024 after receiving information linking him to the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart. The officer also revealed that police had received a video showing the Hyundai i20 before the arrest, which Kekana has denied being involved with. Sekgobela's testimony is crucial as it could provide evidence against Matlala and his co-accused.

The trial is being held under the Criminal Procedure Act, which allows for a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of certain evidence. Judge Cassim Moosa has rejected an application by Nthabiseng Nzama, one of the accused, to be excused from attending parts of the trial due to her studies. The judge noted that the act only permits an accused person to be absent in limited circumstances and that Nzama's legal team had not raised the issue during the pretrial process.

Lawyers should watch for the outcome of the trial within a trial, which will determine whether key evidence can be used against Cat Matlala and his co-accused. This could have significant implications for their clients' cases.

Source: Original reporting via Scrolla