The Cat prowls again: Fresh twist in Vusimuzi Matlala’s prison transfer battle

Johannesburg’s High Court corridors were once again abuzz on Thursday as Vusimuzi Matlala better known in some circles as “The Cat”, returned to the spotlight.

But this time, it wasn’t about a dramatic testimony or a new charge sheet. It was about something more procedural, yet crucial: access.

After months of complaints about prison transfers and restricted consultations, Matlala has now been granted the right to physically sit with his legal team to prepare his defence.

In high-stakes criminal trials, that detail matters.

Back in Joburg, at least for now

Matlala appeared at the Gauteng High Court on 12 February 2026 for a pre-trial conference. During proceedings, it emerged that he had been moved back to Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, after previously being transferred in December to eBongweni Correctional Centre.

His lawyer, Advocate Annelene van den Heever, had earlier raised concerns about conditions at the Kokstad facility and difficulties accessing her client.

On Thursday, she pushed for an order to ensure meaningful consultation, arguing that expert-heavy aspects of the case require direct, document-based engagement something nearly impossible without physical access.

Judge William Karam agreed.

He ordered correctional authorities to provide a consultation space where counsel and accused can meet without obstruction, speak freely, exchange documents and properly prepare. The order is effective from 16 to 17 February 2026.

The pre-trial resumes on 26 February.

[WATCH] Alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s Adv.Anneline van den Heever explains the difficulty with consulting with her client at the prison. “We’re going to ask that our client be brought back to Joburg on Monday to finalise consultation. It is a costly… pic.twitter.com/OKTVXgoUfD

Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 12, 2026

The five accused and 25 charges

Matlala is not alone in the dock.

His co-accused include his wife, Tsakani Matlala, alleged hitmen Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Mabusela’s daughter, Nthabiseng Nzama.

Together, they face 25 charges. The list is extensive: attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, money laundering and defeating the ends of justice.

It’s a case that blends alleged underworld dealings with tenderpreneur politics, a storyline that has kept the public riveted.

From Sandton ambush to taxi underworld claims

The charges stem partly from an alleged shooting incident in Sandton between 12 and 17 October 2023. Socialite and former Muvhango actress Tebogo Thobejane was allegedly ambushed when her vehicle was shot at. She sustained injuries in the incident.

The case also stretches beyond that episode. It includes allegations linked to a 2022 attempted killing of taxi owner Joe Sibanyoni and a failed 2024 attempt on the life of Seunkie Mokubung, widely known as DJ Vettys.

Each thread adds layers to what prosecutors describe as a network of coordinated criminal activity.

Bail divides the accused

While Tsakani Matlala and Nzama were granted bail of R20 000 and R10 000 respectively, Kekana and Mabusela withdrew their bail applications.

Matlala himself remains behind bars. His bail bid was dismissed in October 2025.

Online reaction to the latest court development has been mixed. Some see the consultation order as basic legal fairness a constitutional necessity in any serious criminal matter. Others argue that high-profile accused individuals often appear to receive faster administrative resolutions than ordinary inmates.

In South Africa’s deeply unequal justice landscape, perception carries weight.

More than one scandal

Matlala’s name has surfaced in more than just attempted murder allegations.

He has been implicated in the Thembisa Hospital corruption saga, where the Special Investigations Unit found he benefited from at least R13 million in procurement deals.

He has also featured in proceedings linked to the South African Police Service, including allegations around laundering millions connected to a R360 million health services tender.

Then there’s his appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is probing criminality, political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system.

For many South Africans, the case represents something larger than one man it touches on the blurred lines between politics, tenders and organised crime.

The symbolism of “The Cat”

Matlala’s nickname has long fuelled public intrigue. At one point, he even became the subject of viral conversation for allegedly redefining the use of a Woolworths shopping bag, a detail that added almost cinematic flair to an otherwise grim set of accusations.

But beyond the spectacle lies a serious question: how deeply embedded are criminal networks in state procurement and local power structures?

That’s the real undercurrent.

A trial that tests the system

For now, the focus returns to procedural fairness.

Ensuring that an accused can properly consult with counsel is foundational to the justice system. Without it, convictions can unravel on appeal.

The court’s order does not speak to guilt or innocence. It speaks to due process.

Yet in a country grappling with corruption fatigue and violent crime, every development in this case feels bigger than paperwork.

The Cat may be confined to a cell, but the case itself continues to roam across South Africa’s political and criminal landscape.

And as pre-trial proceedings continue later this month, one thing is certain: this is far from over.

{Source: The Citizen}

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