Acting Judge instructs that Matlala’s lawyers receive better consultation space

Businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala together with co-accused appear in the High Court in Johannesburg on January 29, 2026.

The Acting Judge in the case involving Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and four others has ordered the Department of Correctional Services to provide Matlala’s legal team with a room or place to consult with him, with no obstructions.

Matlala’s lawyers argued to the High Court in Johannesburg that they are unable to properly consult with their client at the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Security Prison in Tshwane due to the hard glass window in between them.

Matlala and his four co-accused appeared in court on Thursday for allegedly attempting to murder socialite Tebogo Thobejane, businessman Joe Sibanyoni and music producer Seunkie Mokubung.

Matlala was moved to Ebongweni Super Maximum Correctional facility in KwaZulu Natal in December, however Correctional Services has been temporarily keeping him at the Kgosi Mampuru prison due to his court case.

Acting Judge William Karam has postponed the matter to February 26 for pre-trial hearings.

“ They are directed to make available within the correctional facility a consultation room where counsel for accused number three and the attorney can together with no obstruction, speak to each other with no obstruction and share documents with each other with no obstruction and for the purpose of this volume of information that counsel for the defence be entitled to take with them into consultation a laptop.”