Cape Town – The Madlanga Commission has, for a second time, postponed the testimony of tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala following arguments between the commission and his legal team over his pending criminal matters.
Matlala appeared before the commission at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria on Wednesday.
According to The Citizen, Advocate Annelene van den Heever, representing Matlala, applied for a postponement at the start of the proceedings, arguing that her client is currently facing ongoing criminal proceedings.
Matlala faces multiple serious charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder linked to the alleged attempted assassinations of his former partner, Tebogo Thobejane, taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and music producer Seunkie Mokubung, popularly known as DJ Vettys.
Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga has approved The application to postpone Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s testimony
Vusimuzi Cat Matlala is now scheduled to appear before the Madlanga Commission on the 1st of September 2026 pic.twitter.com/1L7eT6nIgp
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) July 15, 2026
Van den Heever told the commission that the pending criminal case would make it difficult for Matlala to respond fully to some of the allegations before the inquiry. She argued that he would likely have to invoke his constitutional right to remain silent when questioned on matters that overlap with his criminal trial.
“It’s not in the commission’s interest that we present, in piecemeal fashion, answers to questions,” Van den Heever told the commission.
She also rejected suggestions that her client was the alleged mastermind behind the matters under investigation.
“The fact of the matter is that my client is being made out to be this mastermind by everybody and we respectfully, from our interaction, say that there is a fallacy in that,” she said.
According to IOL, commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga granted the postponement and directed Matlala to submit his written statement by no later than 29 July.
“Matlala must submit his statement not later than July 29,” Madlanga ruled.
Matlala had requested that his testimony be deferred, arguing that appearing before the commission ahead of his criminal trial could compromise his constitutional right to a fair trial.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
