High Court rules alleged hitman’s bail affidavit can be used in Cat Matlala trial

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has ruled that Musa Kekana's bail affidavit can be used as evidence in the attempted murder trial involving Cat Matlala and his co-accused. Judge Ismail Cassim Moosa made his decision on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. The trial has been ongoing, with state prosecutors seeking to admit cellphone records and statements made by Kekana after his arrest on 17 April 2024, hours after the fatal shooting of engineer Armand Swart.

During the bail application, Kekana was clearly cautioned that any statements made would be admissible as evidence against him. Judge Moosa confirmed that the magistrate's warning was sufficient for the affidavit to be considered part of the trial court under section 60(11B)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act. Kekana and former police detective Michael Pule Tau were both denied bail in connection with Swart's murder.

Kekana is currently on trial alongside Matlala, Matlala's wife, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Nthabiseng Zandile Nzama, facing 25 charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, money laundering, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The charges are linked to various botched hit attempts between 2022 and 2024.

The trial has been postponed to Thursday, 10 September, as prosecutors requested additional time to consider new evidence provided by the defense, including AVL records related to the arrest of Kekana.