{
  "id": 6266847,
  "title": "High Court rules alleged hitman’s bail affidavit can be used in Cat Matlala trial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/high-court-rules-alleged-hitmans-bail-affidavit-can-be-used-in-cat",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T10:14:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/high-court-hitman-bail-affidavit-cat-matlala-trial/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Judge Ismail Cassim Moosa delivered his ruling on Tuesday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "title": "21-year ‘Sword of Damocles’ ends: Orissa High Court steps in over worker’s regularisation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/21-year-sword-of-damocles-ends-orissa-high-court-steps-in-over",
        "published": "2026-09-08T08:30:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "What is the role of State government in appointment of High Court Chief Justice? | Explained",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/what-is-the-role-of-state-government-in-appointment-of-high-court",
        "published": "2026-09-08T09:48:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "High Court rules Kekana’s affidavits are admissible in Matlala trial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/high-court-rules-kekanas-affidavits-are-admissible-in-matlala-trial",
        "published": "2026-09-08T11:10:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Court rejects Mustapha Abdul-Hamid’s adjournment plea, orders trial to resume on Wednesday",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/court-rejects-mustapha-abdul-hamids-adjournment-plea-orders-trial-to",
        "published": "2026-09-08T12:26:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "High Court cancels Second Authority appointments over Netanyahu conflict of interest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/high-court-cancels-second-authority-appointments-over-netanyahu",
        "published": "2026-09-08T12:32:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}