By Thapelo Molefe
A Bidvest security guard testified in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday that he exchanged gunfire with alleged hitmen armed with AK-47 rifles during the attempted murder of Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni, firing five shots as the attackers unleashed a hail of bullets outside Centurion Golf Estate.
The testimony marked the start of the State’s case against alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his four co-accused, who have pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition, fraud and money laundering.
The charges stem from three alleged failed assassination attempts targeting Sibanyoni, media personality Tebogo Thobejane and music producer Seunkie “DJ Vettys” Mokubung between August 2022 and January 2024.
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The State alleges that two firearms linked to the attacks on Sibanyoni and DJ Vettys have since been recovered and that forensic and ballistic evidence will form part of its case.
The State’s first witness, Bethuel Mzamo Cele, testified through an isiZulu interpreter that he was on duty as a Bidvest security officer at Centurion Golf Estate on the night of 10 August 2022.
Cele said he had been stationed at the estate for about five months and was near the parking area when a Bidvest controller, identified only as Mr Mazibuko, arrived shortly before the night shift to hand him a two-way radio.
While the two were speaking, a red Ferrari arrived at the estate entrance shortly before 11pm, followed by a white Volkswagen Golf 7.
Cele told the court he then noticed a white BMW driving slowly past the entrance.
“It was in slow motion, as if they were people who were looking for something,” he said.
He testified that the BMW slowed down, one of its windows was lowered and the vehicle made a U-turn at a nearby traffic light before stopping near the Ferrari and Golf.
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“Then two male people alighted from that motor vehicle. When they alighted, they drew out their AK-47s,” Cele said.
He testified that the gunmen immediately realised they had been spotted and opened fire.
“They saw that I had spotted them, and then I was missed by the first bullet,” he said.
Cele said Mazibuko shouted for them to run. He pulled his colleague behind a tree before taking cover behind a concrete flower bed, from where he could still see the attack unfold.
“They continued shooting at us. They were not shooting in our direction, they were shooting at the Golf 7,” he testified.
According to Cele, Mazibuko then urged him to return fire.
“He said, ‘We can’t die while you are in possession of the firearm.'”
Cele said he drew his Bidvest-issued 9mm pistol, cocked it and fired five rounds.
“I fired some shots. Then I shot five rounds of bullets,” he told the court.
He testified that he believed one of the attackers had been wounded.
“They were standing there. Then I could see that one of them had been injured a bit. He ran into a motor vehicle,” he said.
Cele said another gunman continued firing while shouting in isiZulu: “Die, you dog.”
He testified that the occupants of the Ferrari and Golf fled into the golf estate as the shooting continued.
During his evidence, Cele became visibly emotional and paused while recounting the attack.
“My Lord, I just need to place on record that the witness is clearly emotional at the moment, so I can note that he is reliving the moment,” State prosecutor Advocate Elize Le Roux told the court.
Judge Cassim Moosa reassured the witness.
“The court understands that you were there, you were on the scene. I can understand your emotions. You are our eyes and our ears,” the judge said.
After composing himself, Cele continued his testimony, saying he saw the occupants of the targeted vehicles flee in different directions.
He said one of the victims, a man wearing a white shirt, had been shot in the stomach and that his intestines were exposed. Under further questioning, Cele clarified that the injured man was an occupant of the Golf and not one of the alleged attackers.
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Cele further testified that there were three occupants in the BMW, including the driver, and that all three were armed with AK-47 rifles.
He estimated that he was about five to six metres from the BMW during the exchange of gunfire and said his shots struck the vehicle’s mirrors, windows and doors.
Although the parking area was poorly lit, Cele said he was able to observe the sequence of events clearly.
The trial continues.
