Attempted murder-accused and alleged cartel figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has been transferred from Gauteng to a high-security correctional facility in KwaZulu-Natal, a move that has sparked widespread public reaction and renewed debate around high-profile inmates and prison security in South Africa.
Matlala was moved from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria to the eBongweni Correctional Facility in Kokstad on 21 December 2025. The transfer was confirmed by eNCA journalist Pule Letshwiti-Jones, who shared the update on social media. The eBongweni facility is known for housing some of the country’s most dangerous and problematic offenders, operating under strict conditions where inmates are confined to their cells for up to 23 hours a day.
The accused has been behind bars since April 2025 following his arrest in connection with the attempted murder of actress Tebogo Thobejane. The incident reportedly took place in Sandton in 2023. Matlala and his wife, Tsakane Matlala, were both arrested in connection with the case. While Tsakane was granted bail of R20,000, Matlala’s multiple applications for bail have been unsuccessful, resulting in his continued incarceration.
Beyond the attempted murder case, Matlala has been at the centre of broader allegations involving the infiltration of South Africa’s criminal justice system. In July 2025, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged during a media briefing that Matlala had links to senior law enforcement and political figures. Mkhwanazi claimed that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and suspended Deputy National Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya had worked with Matlala and were involved in the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, allegedly to shield him from investigation.
Matlala later appeared before an Ad Hoc Committee on 26 November 2025 during a sitting held at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre. During his testimony, he detailed his alleged relationships with senior figures including Sibiya, suspected fixer Brown Mogotsi, former Police Minister Bheki Cele and Senzo Mchunu. He further alleged that he paid Bheki Cele R500,000 as part of a R1 million bribe that was allegedly demanded from him—claims that have added fuel to an already explosive national conversation around corruption and political interference.
News of Matlala’s transfer to Kokstad triggered strong reactions online. Some South Africans speculated that the move could be linked to a potential escape plot, referencing previous high-profile prison escapes. Others highlighted the harsh realities of incarceration at eBongweni, describing it as a facility that requires immense mental resilience to endure.
Adding to Matlala’s mounting troubles, his company, Medicare24, was recently evicted from its offices at Menlyn Maine Towers in Tshwane. The Gauteng North High Court ruled against the company after it failed to pay more than R250,000 in rental arrears. The company reportedly stopped paying rent in June 2025 and cancelled its lease shortly after Matlala’s arrest.
As investigations and court proceedings continue, Matlala’s transfer marks another significant chapter in a case that continues to captivate and divide public opinion across South Africa.
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