Magistrate Ignatius Du Preez has slapped alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala with double the sentence requested by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) following a plea bargain between the parties, with the agreement that Matlala turns state witness.
He says he does not find the suggested 15- year sentence agreed in the plea bargain just in connection with the R228 million Medicare24 tender fraud and corruption matter.
Matlala earlier pleaded guilty in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in the hope of getting a lenient sentence.
Matlala has turned state witness, and he may spill the beans, implicating more top officials.
WATCH | The court has rejected the request for Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala to serve 8 years of direct imprisonment, ruling it would be unjust. pic.twitter.com/wgfbBLkvms
— SABC News (@SABCNews) July 1, 2026
VIDEO | ‘Cat’ Matlala fires legal representative – Chriselda Lewis updates
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