{
  "id": 7559731,
  "title": "Alleged hitman in Matlala trial alleges police torture in custody",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/alleged-hitman-in-matlala-trial-alleges-police-torture-in-custody",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T13:36:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/alleged-hitman-in-matlala-trial-alleges-police-torture-in-custody/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The High Court in Johannesburg heard that the alleged hitman, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, and four others were on trial when Musa Kekana alleged that police tortured him into confessing to Swart's murder. Kekana was testifying in a trial within a trial, fighting to have evidence against him deemed inadmissible in court. He alleged that police acted rogue on the day of his arrest in 2024. Kekana testified through an interpreter, stating that police tied his wrists and ankles together with his belt, placed a bag over his head, and suffocated him multiple times before he confessed.",
  "summary": "Kekana accused police of acting rogue on the day of his arrest for the alleged murder of Swart.",
  "key_points": [
    "Vusimuzi \"Cat\" Matlala and four others on trial in Matlala case",
    "Musa Kekana alleges police tortured him into confessing",
    "Kekana testifies evidence deemed inadmissible in court"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}