JOHANNESBURG - Police say the trial of alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala marks a major breakthrough in their fight against organised crime.
Matlala, his wife Tsakani Matlala, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, Musa Kekana and Nthabiseng Nzama face 25 charges linked to three alleged assassination attempts between August 2022 and January 2024.
Police say the case stems from the murder investigation of Armand Swart, where the swift arrest of three alleged hitmen led investigators to firearms they say unlocked dozens of other violent crime investigations.
"Today marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice as the trial of Cat Matlala and his co-accused commences. Credit must be given to the Political Killings Task Team, Gauteng Organised Crime and Gauteng Counterintelligence Operations," said Athlenda Mathe, police spokesperson.
Mathe said police investigations linked alleged hitmen Kekana and Nzama to more than 30 serious and violent crime cases in Gauteng alone.
The charges against all five charges include attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, and money laundering.
Matlala also faces separate fraud and money laundering charges linked to a Tshwane District Health Services tender awarded to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.
The attempted murder charges relate to alleged plots targeting actress Tebogo Thobejane, Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni, and music producer Seunkie Mokubung, popularly known as DJ Vetteys.
The State alleges Matlala masterminded the plots, with Mabusela and Kekana recruited as gunmen, while his wife allegedly played a role in the conspiracies.
Nzama faces money laundering charges.
Prosecutors allege she received R100,000 from Matlala's business account before transferring the money to her father as payment linked to the alleged attempt on Thobejane.