'Cat' Matlala, four co-accused deny 25 charges as trial over alleged hit on Tebogo Thobejane begins

The five accused in the dock of the Johannesburg High Court on Monday. From left: Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and his wife Tsakani Matlala, with Nthabiseng Zandile Nzama partially obscured

Socialite Tebogo Thobejane watched from the public gallery of the Johannesburg High Court on Monday as her ex-boyfriend, alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, pleaded not guilty to orchestrating a hit on her.

Matlala and his four co-accused pleaded not guilty to all 25 counts on the indictment, including attempted murder charges carrying life imprisonment, as their long-awaited trial finally got under way.

The trial, which was expected to start at 10am, only got going at about midday following a lengthy delay and a battle over the court diary.

Matlala was dressed in a grey suit, white shirt and black tie.