Controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has withdrawn from his plea and sentence agreement with the State in the R228-million Medicare24 health and wellness tender corruption case, sending the prosecution back to the drawing board.
The dramatic development follows the court’s refusal to endorse the proposed sentence contained in the agreement. While the plea deal provided for an effective eight-year prison term, the court indicated that a 12-year sentence would be more appropriate.
Rather than accept the revised sentence, Matlala withdrew from the agreement on Monday, meaning the matter will now proceed to trial.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the collapse of the plea agreement means none of the admissions or information contained in the agreement can be used by the prosecution.
“The plea has been deemed null and void. Nothing that was contained in that plea can be used. Therefore, we have got to continue with the investigation,” said Kganyago.
