Alleged murder plotter Vusi Matlala to stay behind bars
Controversial businessman Vusi “Cat” Matlala will remain behind bars after his formal bail application was postponed on Monday.
Matlala appeared before the Alexandra Regional Court, where he faces charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the alleged failed plot to kill his then-girlfriend, actor Tebogo Thobejane, in 2023.
The socialite was shot in the foot when she was ambushed near a popular Sandton establishment.
Following an agreement between the state and his lawyers, Matlala will remain behind bars until May 30th.
He was arrested last Wednesday in Midrand and made his first court appearance the next day.
Dressed in flashy clothes, complete with bling and sparkles, the businessman made his second appearance under heavy police guard.
Matlala has previously been linked to irregular multi-million-rand government tenders, including the Tembisa Hospital looting that led to the assassination of whistleblower Babita Deokaran in August 2021.
READ: 'Find the kingpins' - Babita Deokaran remembered two years after assassination
In recent weeks, News24 has published a series of investigative reports implicating the 49-year-old in a questionable R360 million tender with the South African Police Service.
The tenderpreneur will now have to wait for his two co-accused, who are believed to be the hired hitmen in this matter, to be in court before he can proceed with his formal bail application.
It was confirmed in court that Matlala was arrested on the back of a J51 form, also known as a search and seizure warrant.
It’s alleged that during a police investigation in an unrelated case, police executed a search of Matlala’s residences and confiscated his phones.
While screening his phone for evidence, the investigators came across potentially incriminating text messages between him and the alleged hitmen.
The state intends to oppose Matlala’s bid for bail.
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