Joe Sibanyoni to be first witness in alleged hitmen trial involving Matlala
Businessman Joe Sibanyoni is expected to take the witness stand on Tuesday as the first witness for the State in the trial of alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused in the Johannesburg High Court.
Sibanyoni is testifying in a case where Matlala and four others are facing charges linked to three alleged contract killing attempts targeting Sibanyoni, media personality Tebogo Thobejane and musician Austin “DJ Vettys” Mokobung.
The State alleges Sibanyoni was targeted in an attempted hit on 10 August 2022, when he was shot and wounded outside the Centurion Country Club.
On Monday, State prosecutor Advocate Elize Le Roux told the court that Sibanyoni would testify about the events leading up to the shooting and the alleged history of conflict involving individuals connected to the matter.
"Mr Sibanyoni, currently the president of the SA United Taxi Association, will also testify as to the history between him and the late Jotam Zanemvula Msibi, also known as Mswazi or Mswati, and that there was sometime before this incident an animosity between them."
The State alleges that Sibanyoni and his companions were attacked after leaving a restaurant in Sandton and travelling back to Centurion.
Le Roux told the court that the witnesses in the matter would describe how the attack unfolded.
"The complainants in counts 2, 3 and 4 will testify as to their whereabouts the evening of 10 August 2022, which route they travelled and how Mr Sibanyoni was shot and wounded during the incident."
According to the State, the group was parked outside the entrance to the Centurion Country Club when a white BMW allegedly approached them.
"When the BMW was next to them, shots were fired from this BMW at them. Mr Sibanyoni was seriously injured."
The prosecution says it will rely on evidence from witnesses, CCTV footage, cellphone records, vehicle-tracking information, and forensic analysis to support its case.
The court heard that investigators recovered 21 cartridges at the scene, which were later identified as being from a 7.62 calibre AK-47 assault rifle.
Le Roux said ballistic evidence would form part of the State’s case.
"He further indicated that there were two separate AK-47s fired on the scene."
The State alleges a BMW linked to the shooting was later recovered and subjected to forensic examination.
Le Roux told the court that investigators found evidence linking the vehicle to the attack.
"He examined the paintwork and the rest of the body of the motor vehicle, inside and outside. He uncovered several previously repaired bullet holes."
The prosecution further alleges that cellphone analysis placed some of the accused in the vicinity of the scene at the time of the shooting.
Le Roux told the court that investigators analysed communication between the accused before, during and after the incident.
"From the cell phone records, she inter alia found that there was intense cell phone communication between the cell phones of accused number 1 and 2, before, during and after the incident."
Matlala, Musa Kekana and Floyd Mabusela have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.
Matlala, Tiego Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama have also pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges, while Matlala’s wife, Tsakane Matlala, has denied a charge of accessory after the fact to attempted murder.
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