Cape Town – The Madlanga Commission has rejected a postponement application by alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, clearing the way for the continuation of his testimony on Monday.
Matlala’s legal team asked the commission to stand down proceedings, citing difficulties consulting with him at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, where he is being held.
His lead counsel, Advocate Annelene van den Heever, was also absent from the proceedings after falling ill. Advocate Fatima Missi told the commission that Matlala was uncomfortable proceeding without his lead counsel and before his legal team had finalised its written submissions.
Missi said Matlala believed he would not be properly represented if he was required to continue without van den Heever.
“He feels that it’s unfair that the commission is putting him in a position where he has to proceed where his lead counsel is not here,” Missi told the commission.
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Vusimuzi Cat Matlala’s legal team has told the #MadlangaCommission that he is not comfortable proceeding with his testimony in the absence of his primary counsel, Advocate Anneline van den Heever (who is unwell and absent), and that they plan to approach the courts to… pic.twitter.com/aiBQQGufyp
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) August 24, 2026
She said the legal team also needed additional time to obtain documents, prepare a replying affidavit and finalise its heads of argument.
The commission, however, questioned why Matlala’s lawyers had not brought a substantive application for a postponement if the outstanding documents and preparation had been known about for some time.
Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseni Madlanga also challenged the argument that the absence of written submissions meant Matlala’s legal team was not ready to proceed.
“Written submissions, yes, they do assist legal representatives, but in the main, written submissions are prepared for the assistance of the decision-maker and not so much the advocate,” Madlanga said.
The commission further pointed out that the absence of van den Heever had initially been raised only in passing, with the main reasons given for the postponement being the outstanding documents and written submissions.
“At some point a decision should have been made that, seeing that we don’t have these documents and because we do not have them, we are going to seek a postponement,” Madlanga said.
After a brief consultation, the commissioners rejected Matlala’s application.
His legal team will now have to proceed with substantive arguments before the commission, including submissions concerning his right not to incriminate himself.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
