'Cat' Matlala bail appeal denied: NPA welcomes High Court judgment

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed a Johannesburg High Court judgment that denied Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala's bail appeal.

The court handed down the judgment on Monday, stating that his release "would not serve the interest of justice."

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The alleged crime kingpin escalated his bid for bail to the High Court last week after the Magistrate's Court dismissed his application last month. He will now remain in custody ahead of his trial.

In addition tothe attempted murder charge Matlala faces for allegedly arranging a hit on his socialite girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, he is confronting ten other similar charges. The High Court considered some of these cases in its judgment.

The NPA said the court has made the right decision in denying Matlala bail.

NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane commented on the ruling, confirming the NPA's satisfaction.

"We are of the view that the court made the right decision in denying Mr Matlala bail, considering the severity of the charges and the risk to public safety as well as law enforcement officers, including the investigating officers and the prosecutors involved in this matter."

The dockets of all of Matlala's cases will now be centralised ahead of the start of his trial.