The Johannesburg High Court has upheld the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court’s decision that alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is a flight risk, dismissing his appeal for bail on Monday.
Matlala had sought bail after the Alexandra Magistrates Court ruled he was not eligible, following charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder linked to his socialite girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, in 2023.
The magistrates court cited several factors in denying bail, including Matlala’s Eswatini identification, which he had requested from his wife, and his foreign financial interests. It was revealed that he maintains a trust account in Mauritius.
In delivering the high court judgment, Judge Pieter du Plessis agreed that Matlala had both the means and the potential to evade trial. He concluded that releasing him would not serve the interests of justice.
