Matlala threatens to walk out of Madlanga as lead counsel falls ill
Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has threatened to approach the courts to halt his testimony before the Madlanga Commission after his senior counsel, Annalise van der Heever, fell ill and could not attend Monday’s proceedings. Matlala told the commission that he was not prepared to be cross-examined without Van der Heever, his lead counsel.
The Madlanga Commission resumed proceedings on Monday afternoon following a tense exchange between businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala and his legal team. Matlala's legal counsel, Advocate Fatima Missi, threatened to withdraw from the Commission's hearings if they proceeded without granting Matlala's legal team additional time to prepare.
However, when directly questioned, Matlala appeared uncertain about whether his legal team would withdraw. Commissioner Sesi Baloyi described the conflicting positions as deeply problematic, urging Missi to consult with Matlala before finalizing their decision. Baloyi expressed concern over the apparent contradiction between Matlala's initial statement and his legal counsel's decision.
The Commission denied Matlala's request to postpone the hearings, which focused on whether he could invoke his right against self-incrimination.
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