PRETORIA - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it has concluded negotiations with the legal team of alleged underworld figure Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala, but remains tight-lipped about whether a plea agreement has been reached.
Matlala made a brief appearance in the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Wednesday. His matter has been separated from the main fraud and corruption case linked to the Medicare24 tender and will now proceed independently in the regional court.
He faces fraud and corruption charges relating to a controversial R228-million South African Police Service tender awarded to his company, Medicare24.
Matlala is expected to return to court on Thursday.
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NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed that discussions between prosecutors and Matlala’s legal team had been concluded but declined to say whether a plea bargain had been agreed to.
"All I can say to you is we are ready. We have finished our talks with him, and we are ready. But we cannot talk about a deal until the magistrate has looked into it," Kganyago said.
"If there is an agreement, the magistrate still has to apply their mind to it. It only becomes a deal once a magistrate gives it the thumbs up. For now, we cannot talk about a deal because anything can happen between now and tomorrow."