"Compensation to KILL" — Cat Matlala & Wife Tsakane Face LIFE in Prison

Day 1 of the trial of Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, his wife Tsakane, and co-accused (State v Musa Kakana & others, SS98/2025, Johannesburg High Court, 20 July 2026). The State puts 25 counts: conspiracy to murder, attempted murder read with Section 51(1) — minimum sentence LIFE imprisonment — illegal possession of an AK-47 (serial 575363), and money laundering: R20,000 and R100,000 described in the indictment as "a portion of the compensation to kill the complainant," plus an allegedly false R70,000 invoice from Poco Funeral Parlour. Before a single witness, defence and opposing counsel go to war over whether the trial even runs — "A court order is a court order." All accused pleaded NOT GUILTY. Watch the full courtroom footage. ⚖️ All accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This video shows court proceedings; all claims are allegations by the State. 00:05:19 - 00:06:02 | case called: State v Musa Kakana & others 00:19:11 - 00:23:33 | defence application to pause trial 3 weeks — "infringe his right to a fair trial" 00:25:22 - 00:28:57 | opposing counsel: "a court order is a court order" + Zondo/Zuma judgment quote 00:33:17 - 00:34:10 | "We object... your lordship has no choice" 00:38:23 - 00:43:06 | judge presses: "just give me the date" — then reads Karum AJ's orders from the file 00:43:59 - 00:45:59 | showdown: "is this court not allowed to deal with the application?" — "I've heard you" 00:59:37 - 01:01:09 | ruling: no prejudice — trial pauses 11–28 August 01:04:22 - 01:07:30 | count 1 & 2: conspiracy to murder Sibanyoni, Centurion Golf Estate shooting — pleas 01:07:39 - 01:09:33 | judge explains s51(1): life imprisonment on attempted murder 01:13:41 - 01:15:52 | count 7: prohibited AK-47, serial 575363, caliber correction 01:18:02 - 01:19:10 | second incident: count 9 conspiracy to murder Thobejane 01:19:26 - 01:23:38 | counts 10-11: Bryanston Drive shooting; wife charged as accessory, warned of life sentence 01:26:49 - 01:30:35 | count 15: money laundering — R20k "compensation", account flow, R100m fine / 30 yrs penalty 01:30:47 - 01:32:58 | count 16: R100,000 "portion of the compensation to kill the complainant" 01:32:58 - 01:36:18 | count 17: false invoice by Poco Funeral Parlor, R70,000 — indictment amended