‘Cat’ Matlala’s testimony delayed: Here’s why

Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s legal team says difficulties consulting with him at Kgosi Mampuru II Prison have contributed to delays in filing a late affidavit before the Madlanga Commission.

Advocate Fatima Missi, who represents Matlala, told the commission that the legal team has had to navigate a number of challenges to consult with her client and properly prepare his case.

Missi asked the commission to take these circumstances into account and allow Matlala’s legal team an opportunity to file its replying affidavit, heads of argument and an application for condonation for the late filing.

“We beg this Commission humbly to consider all the elements that we consistently have to do to try and ensure that we represent Mr Matlala,” Missi said.

However, commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga was not persuaded that Matlala’s involvement was necessary to deal with the issues causing the delay.

Madlanga pointed out that the evidence leaders’ answering affidavit raised legal questions which, in his view, could have been addressed by Matlala’s lawyers without requiring extensive consultation with their client.

“I don’t understand this issue of agonising over how, when to consult Mr Matlala with regard to a replying affidavit,” Madlanga said.

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He stressed that the matters raised were legal questions that lawyers should have been able to respond to themselves.

The exchange highlights the tension between Matlala’s legal team and the commission over the reasons for the delay, with Missi urging the commission to accommodate the practical difficulties faced by the defence, while Madlanga questioned whether those difficulties justified the late filing.

The Commission will resume at 11:30