Johannesburg High Court turns down Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala's bail appeal

JOHANNESBURG High Court Judge Pieter du Plessis found that it was not in the "interests of justice" for businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala to be released on bail.

- MERCURY CORRESPONDENT

Judge du Plessis yesterday handed down his ruling in the bail appeal that Matlala had brought in the high court after he was denied bail in the magistrate's court.

Matlala has been charged with attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane. She was shot in the foot on the N1 highway near Sandton in 2023.

He also faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering.

Matlala was denied bail in September at the Alexandra Magistrates' Court after Magistrate Syta Prinsloo ruled that he had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances justifying his release and found that he posed a flight risk.

In his ruling, Judge du Plessis said the magistrate had relied on the wrong onus - exceptional circumstances - to decide the matter. However he found even using the correct onus - interests of justice - did not disturb most of the findings she had made with regard to the bail decision.