By Palesa Matlala
- The state asked for more time to look into legal representations linked to accused Nthabiseng Nzama, daughter of Tiago Mabusela.
- Matlala’s lawyer said he wants a separate trial, while wife Tsakane Matlala will no longer seek to have charges dropped.
The case against Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala was postponed again in the Gauteng High Court.
The state asked for more time to investigate representations linked to accused number five, Nthabiseng Nzama. Nzama is the daughter of accused number two, Tiago Mabusela.
Senior prosecutor Elize Le Roux said there were still outstanding representations from the defence. She said the extra time would allow new submissions to be properly considered.
Judge William Karam was unhappy with the request and said there was a lack of urgency in the proceedings.
The case has been postponed several times since it was transferred to the Gauteng High Court.
Karam asked each defence lawyer if they were ready for a pre-trial. Accused one and two said they were ready.
Matlala’s lawyer, Advocate Anneline van der Heever, was not ready. She said the state was deliberately frustrating her clients and that the matter could not proceed while the State had not handed over outstanding documents.
“This is now punishment for us wanting to exercise our constitutional rights by asking for documents that we are not only entitled to but… I am really quite astonished that the state cannot deal with the request we have made of documents I expect to be in the state docket,” Van der Heever said.
The court also heard that Matlala’s wife, Tsakane Matlala, will no longer make representations to have charges against her dropped.
Van der Heever said Matlala wants to be tried separately, claiming there is no case against him.
Five accused face a total of 25 charges, including money laundering and 11 counts of attempted murder.
Pictured above: Cat Matlala and his one of his co-accused.
Image source: File
