JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority is adamant that the case against Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’ has not collapsed.
It comes after the alleged underworld figure withdrew from his plea agreement with the state in the R228-million SAPS tender corruption case linked to his company, Medicare24.
The development came after the court rejected the state’s proposed eight-year prison sentence, indicating that a 12-year term would be more appropriate.
This was heard when Matlala made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday.
READ | Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala withdraws plea deal
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says prosecutors have already built a strong case against him before the negotiations.
"We can not say why he withdrew from the plea agreement, but we were anticipating that it might happen because it is within his right to decide whether to do it, especially after the magistrate had increased what we had agreed on from eight years to 12 years. Therefore, anything was possible from that point onward.
Kganyago maintains that the case against Matlala continues continue independently of the failed deal.
"The use of the word collapse gives the impression that we did not have evidence against him. The reason why he approached us is because he knew we have got enough evidence against him. We had done our homework, him and all the 16 others that are in that case.
"Therefore, in this case, what will then happen is we will go back to square one, where we will then have to take him back, because we had removed him from the big case as accused number one, so that we can deal with this plea agreement. Now that it is not in void, we will take him back to be accused number one.
Kganyago says the State’s case was never dependent on the plea agreement.
READ | NPA: Matlala trial to proceed despite failed plea agreement
He says several suspects had already been arrested based on evidence gathered during the investigation, well before the agreement was concluded.
"What was important for us is to get further people from the ones that are before the court. That Is something that we will have to do ourselves. We don't have to depend on Mr Matlala anymore," he added.