By Johnathan Paoli
Gauteng High Court Judge William Karam has said that the attempted murder trial involving alleged criminal kingpin Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused must proceed as scheduled, as the interests of justice cannot be undermined by further delays.
Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, Musa Kekana and Tiego Mabusela appeared in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing ahead of the trial, which is scheduled to begin on 20 July.
The case also involves Nthabiseng Nzama, who is among the accused in the matter.
The accused face 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, arising from three alleged shooting incidents between August 2022 and January 2024. The charges include allegations linked to the October 2023 shooting involving actress and influencer Tebogo Thobejane, Matlala’s former lover.
Wednesday’s hearing was dominated by concerns raised by Kekana’s recently appointed attorney, Joe Strauss, about funding for the defence and the availability of preferred counsel, who is reportedly committed to other matters during part of the trial period.
Kekana informed the court on Monday that his previous defence counsel, Hlatshwayo Radebe, had withdrawn his services.
However Strauss was not present at that pre-trial hearing, therefore halting proceedings.
Judge Karam made it clear that the court had already invested significant time and resources in ensuring the matter was trial-ready and that the agreed trial date would not be easily disturbed.
“We have had multiple hearings in this matter in order to get the matter trial ready,” Karam said.
He reminded the parties that all legal representatives had previously agreed that the matter would commence on 20 July and proceed uninterrupted.
“All counsel confirmed that the matter would proceed, would commence uninterruptedly from the 20th of July,” the judge said.
The court heard that Kekana’s legal team had only been partially funded for consultations and preparation, with funding for the actual trial still outstanding.
Strauss told the court that his client had undertaken to secure the necessary funds before the end of June.
Karam warned that the court would hold Kekana to that undertaking.
“The court is holding you to your undertaking that funding will be received by the 30th of June,” he said.
The judge also rejected any suggestion that the unavailability of a preferred advocate could derail the proceedings.
“The bottom line is that this trial is proceeding on the 20th of July,” Karam said.
Karam said the interests of justice went beyond the interests of one accused and included the rights of co-accused, complainants, and the public.
“The interests of justice are to further those of society and the public in general that justice is determined. It is further in the interests of the complainants in this matter that the matter proceed and that justice is done and is seen to be done,” he said.
Karam warned that he would not permit the court to be left in uncertainty over representation issues when the trial date arrived.
The matter was postponed to 30 June for a further update on funding and trial readiness.
Matlala, Kekana and Mabusela remain in custody, while Tsakane Matlala and Nzama are on bail.
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