Pressure Mounts on Vusimuzi Matlala Over Attempted Murder and Corruption
If you think you’ve seen dramatic courtroom sagas before, the story of Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala has it all—the glitz of celebrity, whispers of political power, and allegations that reach into the highest circles. Right now, Matlala, the Pretoria businessman with a reputation for nabbing big police tenders, is locked away in the notoriously tough C-Max unit of Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. His fate hangs in the balance as authorities dig even deeper into his affairs.
The latest court appearance on 11 July 2025 wasn’t just another legal formality. With his wife Tsakani and two others by his side, Matlala heard that his murder trial would have to wait. The judge pushed the date to late August, hinting that investigators are scrambling to pull together new case dockets. Insiders say more charges are almost certain, turning this already complex story into a legal maze.
All of this exploded after a 2023 shooting on the N1 near Johannesburg. Actress Tebogo Thobejane, recognized from her time on the TV drama Muvhango, suddenly found herself in the center of a real-life attack. She walked away with a gunshot wound to her foot, while her passenger suffered a far worse spinal injury. Those cold-blooded shots triggered a police probe that quickly pointed to a more tangled web than anyone expected.
Investigators believe Matlala may be more than just a businessman in the wrong place at the wrong time. KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi didn’t mince words, publicly naming Matlala as a central player in a crime syndicate. That syndicate, according to the commissioner, sits uncomfortably close to the corridors of national power—enough so that even Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s name came up as part of an alleged circle of influence.
Contract Scandals and Expanding Allegations
Dig a little deeper and the money trail gets just as murky. Before the bullets started flying, Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, clinched a SAPS contract worth a jaw-dropping R360 million in early 2024. Not long after, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola slapped the whole deal down, citing procurement irregularities. That move opened another can of worms. A team of investigators began combing through tenders and contracts across SAPS, searching for signs of bribes or favoritism that could link back to Matlala’s deals.
Corruption stories usually die out in police press releases—but this time, the scandal refused to fade. Prosecutors started laying down even more serious charges, adding fraud and obstruction of justice to the growing list. Tsakani Matlala, the accused’s wife, is out on R20,000 bail for now, but her role remains under close scrutiny. Prosecutors have openly admitted they’re collecting fresh evidence, with hints that the web of alleged crimes could catch more big names as the investigation broadens.
With the trial date set for 26 August, more questions swirl than answers. Did the attempted assassination of a TV star have deeper political motives? Are tenders and high-level deals just a smokescreen for wider criminal operations? One thing’s clear: Matlala’s story is far from over, and whatever happens next could shake faith in how much crime and power still intertwine in South Africa’s corridors of influence.