The Johannesburg High Court has dismissed the bail appeal of alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, upholding the earlier decision by the Alexandra Magistrates Court that he is a flight risk.
The court’s ruling, delivered on Monday by Judge Pieter du Plessis, means Matlala will remain behind bars as he awaits trial for allegedly ordering a hit on his girlfriend, socialite Tebogo Thobejane, in 2023.
In his judgment, Judge du Plessis said he found no reason to differ from the magistrate’s findings, emphasizing that Matlala “had both the means and potential to evade trial.”
Among the key factors that influenced the court’s decision were Matlala’s Eswatini ID, which he reportedly requested a photo of from his wife, and evidence of foreign financial interests, including a trust account in Mauritius.
Judge du Plessis concluded that releasing Matlala on bail would not serve the interests of justice, affirming the earlier ruling that the accused poses a significant flight risk.
