The defence in the Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala trial has challenged evidence about an alleged escape plot involving co-accused Musa Kekana, arguing that the State is relying on information from an unidentified doctor.
The objection was raised during testimony by former Bramley police station commander Colonel Owen King at the Johannesburg High Court.
King told the court that he ordered Kekana’s removal from Edenvale Hospital and his transfer to the Bramley police cells after receiving information that he was allegedly planning to have someone forcibly break him out of the hospital while he was under police guard.
However, King conceded that he never met the doctor who allegedly alerted authorities to the threat.
“My lord, I never met the doctor, but the person on the other line had an accent that was not from South Africa, possibly from further up north in Africa,” King told the court.
He said his main concern was the safety of hospital staff and police personnel.
King testified that hospital staff had allegedly overheard Kekana discussing the escape plan during a telephone conversation, prompting the authorities to act.
The defence objected to this evidence, describing it as hearsay and arguing that Kekana would be prejudiced because the alleged source of the information could not be cross-examined.
The identity of the doctor remains unknown, and King told the court that he had never personally seen or met the person who allegedly provided the information.
Kekana has previously alleged that he was removed from hospital before making a full recovery and that his constitutional rights were violated.
He is challenging both his arrest and the evidence obtained against him.
The dispute over King’s evidence forms part of the broader legal challenges surrounding the case against Matlala and his four co-accused.