Businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala has declared his intention to plead not guilty to all charges linked to the 2023 attempted assassination of actress Tebogo Thobejane.

In an affidavit presented by his defence lawyer, Advocate Laurence Hodes SC, at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Matlala denied the charges of attempted murder, conspiracy, and money laundering, stating they are baseless and lacking substance.

Read more: Court postpones Cat Matlala’s bail application to next week

The charges stem from a 2023 incident where Thobejane’s car was shot at on the N1 highway near Sandton, leaving her friend seriously injured, and, according to the state, paralysed. Matlala, along with four co-accused, faces allegations tied to this attack.

In his bail application, he argued that the state lacks evidence to convict him, asserting: “I am certain that I will be found not guilty, as there is no evidence upon which a court could convict me.”

Matlala challenged the state to produce evidence linking him to the crime, denying any involvement in the shooting. He even claims that Thobejane contacted him multiple times, between October 2023 and June 2024, seeking his help and protection after the attempt on her life, due to his role in the security industry. He said he declined to assist because the matter was under police investigation.

On the conspiracy charge, Matlala denied colluding with anyone, including his co-accused, to plan the attack. He also refuted money laundering allegations, which involve transactions from his business account to those of co-accused Nthabiseng Nzama and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, insisting the funds’ origins and destinations were clear and legitimate.

@caxtonjoburgnorth Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala appears before the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court for his bail application, although the state indicated it intends to oppose his release on bail. #Alexandra #vusimuzimatlala ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

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“The state will fail to sustain any of these charges against me, because, as it stands, these charges are based on mere unsustainable suspicion and speculation,” Matlala’s affidavit read.

The prosecution, however, presented evidence suggesting premeditation, citing a voice note from Mabusela to accused one, Musa Kekana, allegedly mentioning Matlala five days before the shooting. “Later the same day, R20 000 was transferred from the business account of [Matlala]’s company into the company account of [Mabusela]’s daughter, Nzama. R15 000 was then transferred from this account into the account of a company of which [Mabusela] is the only director.”

They also challenged Matlala’s claim that a R100 000 payment to Nzama was for Mabusela’s mother’s funeral, noting the payment occurred nearly an hour before her death on October 18, 2023.
Additionally, the state raised concerns about Thobejane receiving threatening calls from individuals allegedly linked to Matlala since his arrest on May 14, 2025, urging her to drop the charges.

Matlala’s affidavit accused the investigating team of misconduct, including theft and potential evidence planting. The prosecution requested time to address these claims, leading Magistrate Syta Prinsloo to postpone the bail hearing to September 8. Matlala will remain in custody until then, as the court awaits the state’s response to his allegations.

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