By Anita Dangazele
- Matlala’s fraud and corruption case has been given a new case number and moved to Pretoria Regional Court 19, separate from 16 co-accused including a suspended police commissioner.
- Matlala remains denied bail and is held at the C-Max section of Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre as a high-risk inmate.
Alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala will stand trial alone.
The state applied to split his case from the main Medicare24 tender fraud trial, and a Pretoria magistrate granted it.
Matlala made a brief appearance at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. His matter has now been assigned a new case number and transferred to Pretoria Regional Court 19 under Section 75(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act. He will face the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court without his original co-accused.
Two other accused have also been removed from the main trial, though their identities have not been confirmed.
The main trial continues with 16 accused, including suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola. That group is due back in court on Friday.
The case centres on allegations of fraud and corruption in the awarding of a R360-million SAPS contract to Medicare24 in the Tshwane district.
Matlala is currently denied bail. He is being held at the C-Max section of Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, classified as a high-risk inmate.
The tender fraud matter is not his only legal problem. Matlala and his wife are separately facing charges in the High Court linked to a series of attempted murder plots in 2023.
Pictured above: Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala outside court.
Image source: Supplied
