By Zenzile Dlamini
The Johannesburg High Court has postponed the pre-trial hearing of alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his four co-accused to 6 February 2026.
The postponement was granted to allow defence teams additional time to consult and to pursue an application for Matlala’s transfer to a correctional facility closer to the court.
Matlala, who faces multiple counts of attempted murder and related charges, is standing trial alongside his co-accused, including his wife, Tsakane Matlala. He is currently being held at eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
His legal representative told the court that the distance of the facility from Gauteng, coupled with restricted access, has hampered adequate consultation and trial preparation. The defence is therefore seeking his transfer to a Gauteng-based correctional centre to ensure fair and effective preparation for trial.
The matter will return to court early next year, pending the outcome of the transfer application.
