First witness cross-examination expected in 'Cat' Matlala botched killings case

[00:00:00]The trial of alleged criminal kingpin Vusi Mtshali Mtshali and his four co-accused continues in the Johannesburg High Court. A witness, Betuel Qalinge, has told the court how he exchanged fire with armed attackers during a shooting at a golf estate where businessman Josias Baloyi was wounded. He's expected to face cross-examination by the defense today. Mtshali Mtshali and his co-accused face multiple charges linked to three alleged attempted assassinations. This was between 2022 and 2024. For the very latest on the trial proceedings, we speak to SABC News reporter Neria Tlakula at the Johannesburg High Court. A very good morning to you, Neria. Quite a lot taking place yesterday in so far as Mr. Qalinge, the witness, is concerned. I know there were instances where we had the defense objecting to just the conduct or the manner in which he responded. Just give us a summation of everything we heard yesterday and what we're expecting today.

[00:00:57]>> Good morning to you, Mfundo. Definitely, uh, Mr. Qalinge is a first, uh, as the first witness of the state, his testimony was one of those testimonies that everybody was waiting for as he took the stand. You know, the prosecution at this point has started just to outline what really happened in August 2022 when a businessman, Josias Baloyi, and others were shot at. I just want to mention though and make it very clear that at this point, uh, the state has not mentioned exactly who was in those shooting incident or in that shooting incident. We also still don't know who the gunmen during that night away, but what we know right now from Mr. Qalinge himself, he mentioned that on that night there was a first a Ferrari and then a Golf and then came a white BMW and he was telling the court that that BMW, the occupants, rather, of the BMW are the ones that fired shots.

[00:02:00]He spoke about how there were two AK-47 at the scene. You know, Telle also just telling the court that he, too, had to fire some shots just to protect himself from these gunmen who are still, as I said, not known. But, according to the state, when you remember when they were putting their evidence to the court, or their case, rather, to the court, they still allege that accused number one and two in the matter are the alleged gunmen. This is Tshegofatso Mabusela and Meseka Gane. And going back again to Telle's testimony, you know, he described that night as one of those nights that everybody was to fight for their life. And he was saying how he only realized the next day that this the issue, or the incident itself, was very rough, and in fact, he could have lost his life. And with his conduct, one thing that was raised, and this was raised by the counsel of the fifth accused first, and this is because he raised it because Telle speaks in Zulu, and ultimately, it has to be translated to the court in terms of what he's saying. And the accused for the counsel for accused number five was talking about how the way he's responding to the other legal defense of accused number one is very unprofessional, and he's not happy with that conduct. But then, there was a few Zulu phrases that was used.

[00:03:26]And when it's translated, it essentially means it is none of my business. And this is where the he was getting just some few questions with regards to some of the things that happened at the scene, and that's when they raised it to say that conduct, or the demeanor, or even the tone that is being used is unacceptable in court. And you know, I think also, when you listen to his testimony, he mentions to say he's been getting calls after this incident itself. He says he hates court, and he believes that this matter should have been Remember this incident itself happened in 2022, and since then he's had that memory. He was also speaking about the fact that he remembers that the incident as if it happened yesterday. So, today we are expecting at least that the defense counsel then will ultimately just continue with the cross-examination of this witness.