Matlala trial: Musa Kekana challenges evidence admissibility

A trial-within-a-trial is underway at the Johannesburg High Court regarding the admissibility of evidence in the attempted murder case against Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and four co-accused. The proceedings focus on allegations of police misconduct involving Musa Kekana.

Kekana is challenging the evidence, alleging he was assaulted and suffocated while in custody. Testimony has addressed the circumstances of his hospital stay at Edenvale Hospital, where he was reportedly handcuffed to a bed under police guard. A central dispute involves whether Kekana was unlawfully removed from the hospital and taken to Bramley Police Station instead of being transferred to South Rand Hospital as doctors had ordered.

Police officer Malikutu Raseala testified that he acted on instructions from superiors and disputed the claim of unlawful removal. The outcome of this legal challenge will determine if the evidence obtained during Kekana's arrest can be used in the main trial, where the defendants face 25 counts related to alleged assassination attempts against several individuals.