The trial-within-a-trial involving alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four co-accused has been postponed until 31 August after a key State witness became unavailable due to a family emergency.
Proceedings in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg were halted after senior prosecutor Advocate Elize le Roux informed the court that the medical practitioner who treated accused Musa Kekana in hospital was unable to testify.
“My Lord, I have to regretfully inform the court that I have a challenge with my next witness. It would have been the medic who treated the accused. We consulted with her last night, and she indicated that she has a family crisis, which I do not think I should disclose in court,” Le Roux said.
She added that the State was also scheduled to consult another witness, Dr Panicker, later on Tuesday and was therefore not in a position to proceed with leading further evidence.
“The State also intends to call Dr Panicker, whom we could only secure for consultation later this afternoon. The State is therefore not in a position to call the next witness,” she told the court.
Earlier, TRT Lieutenant Colonel Tumelo Tsotetsi concluded his testimony, rejecting allegations that police had violated Kekana’s constitutional rights during his arrest.
The trial-within-a-trial is determining whether evidence obtained during Kekana’s arrest will be admissible in the main trial.
Matlala and his four co-accused face a combined 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, money laundering, and the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.
