Controversial tenderpreneurs Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Katiso “KT” Molefe could soon face more charges as police prepare to enrol more cases against them.
In court this week, where Matlala’s bid for freedom failed after the Alexandra magistrate’s court refused to grant him bail, it was also revealed that the three guns taken from him were linked to 18 murder and attempted murder cases.
The firearms — an AK-47 and two pistols — now in police custody could see additional cases being enrolled against Matlala and associates should police piece together missing links.
Matlala, 49, is facing three attempted murder charges after his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane, and two friends were shot in October 2023 in Bryanston.
Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe refused to divulge details around the 18 murder and attempted murder cases, saying police will only reveal them when enrolling cases relating to them.
Johan Burger from the Institute of Security Studies’ Crime and Justice Programme said positively linking the firearms to the incident was just the beginning.
“The fact that the three weapons seized from him were positively linked to murder and attempted murder gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that he was either directly or indirectly involved in those incidents,” Burger said.
More investigations still needed to be done to ascertain what Matlala’s role was before a case could be enrolled. “The police investigation will have to find additional evidence in each case [incident] to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he was involved,” Burger said.
The flashy businessman was already facing the charges alongside his wife, Tsakani, alleged hitmen Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Mabusela’s daughter, Nthabiseng Nzama.
Thobejane, Matlala’s ex-girlfriend, was travelling with a friend in October 2023 when they were shot at. While Thobejane sustained a foot wound, the friend sustained a serious spinal cord injury and was in hospital for months.
Molefe, who was arrested for the murder of DJ Sumbody, was denied bail in August and is behind bars.
Molefe and three co-accused face charges related to the killing of DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos. They appeared in court this week and the matter was postponed to November, while Matlala’s case is back in court next month.
These are some of the murder and attempted murder incidents police have linked to guns seized from Matlala:
Murders
Oupa Sefoka (DJ Sumbody): A popular Pretoria DJ, musician and club owner, killed in November 2022 in Joburg after performing at News Cafe in Woodmead. His vehicle was ambushed nearby.
Armand Swart: A Vereeniging engineer who died in April last year after he was shot 23 times in what was suspected to be a case of mistaken identity after his company reported corruption by Transnet officials.
Sibusiso Mokoena: A bodyguard of DJ Sumbody, who was also killed in November 2022 when the vehicle they were travelling in was ambushed and shot at.
Sandile Myeza: Another of DJ Sumbody’s bodyguards killed in the November 2022 attack.
Hector Buthelezi (DJ Vintos): Also known as Ginimbi, the DJ was killed in Orlando, Soweto in March 2022 after he was shot by unknown men driving a BMW X3.
Don Tindleni: A businessman who was shot and killed in March 2023 on the N1 near the M17 off-ramp in Johannesburg while travelling in his BMW 5 Series, which was sprayed with bullets.
Attempted murders
Joe Sibanyoni (Joe Ferrari): The taxi boss and businessman from Kwaggafontein in Mpumalanga survived a shooting incident at the Centurion Golf Estate in Centurion on August 10 2022. A white BMW sedan suddenly stopped and a man carrying a gun alighted from the vehicle and started shooting at him.
0 of 3
Tebogo Thobejane: The actress and ex-lover of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was ambushed in Bryanston in October 2023. Thobejane sustained a foot wound and had to flee the country in fear of her life after the incident.
Anele Malinga: Thobejane’s friend was travelling with her on the night in October 2023 when the BMW they were travelling in was sprayed with bullets. Malinga was shot in the spinal cord and left paralysed.
Khumbulani Ncube: Another friend of Thobejane's who was travelling with her and Malinga on the night they were shot at in Bryanston.
Seunkie Mokubung (DJ Vettys): A friend of DJ Sumbod who was shot while leaving for a gig in January 2024. He was hospitalised as a result.
What also emerged in court this week was that dockets relating to the Sibanyoni and DJ Vettys cases had disappeared from the system, forcing the task team investigators to start new dockets.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.