Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala Wears Lawyer's Gown in Court, Video Goes Viral
- Accused murderer Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala was filmed wearing a lawyer's black gown inside a Johannesburg courtroom during his ongoing trial
- Matlala faces charges including the murders of DJ Sumbody and engineer Armand Swart, as well as the attempted murder of two others
- South Africans expressed mixed reactions online, with some calling the moment disrespectful to the legal profession
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Source: Getty Images
JOHANNESBURG — A video of murder accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala donning a lawyer's black gown inside a Johannesburg courtroom has gone viral, drawing sharp criticism and divided opinion from South Africans online.
The clip, shared on X on 31 August 2026, shows Matlala laughing while wearing the legal gown before removing it and searching for its owner. The footage was captured in what appears to be the courtroom itself, with no official explanation provided for how he came to be wearing the garment.
Matlala's charges and trial
Matlala is on trial in Johannesburg on charges that include the murders of popular DJ Sumbody and engineer Armand Swart, as well as the attempted murder of Tebogo Thobejane and taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni. The courtroom video surfaced during proceedings in the high-profile case that has attracted sustained public attention.
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View the video:
Public reaction to the courtroom clip
The footage prompted a wave of commentary on social media, with opinions split between those amused by Matlala's demeanour and those who viewed the incident as a serious affront to the justice system.
@Sunflowerreal said:
"Haibo, why did they allow him to do this 😤?"
@Letshegolarona wrote:
"Lawless society, even lawyers are lawless."
@kt_thys raised the question of professional accountability:
"And you must be ethical and morally grounded when you wear this gown. Joking about it symbolises a disrespect for the law of this country. This is totally wrong. Hope the LPC is watching."
@KatlegoRamushu2 added:
"This gown is going to lose dignity; it is not a thing to play with, especially inside the courtroom or building."
Others were more sympathetic. @Khathu_10 wrote:
"Cat Matlala may be a criminal, but he's just full of love and happiness. Some of you just want to see him always sad. That man is already suffering when he's alone in that cell for 23 hours."
@TebogoMrembu questioned Matlala's composure more broadly:
"This one is too comfortable now; why is he not stressing? What does he know that we don't know?"
Malesela Teffo addresses judge at Matlala trial
In a related article, Briefly News reported on the unexpected appearance of disbarred attorney Malesela Teffo at the attempted murder trial of Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala on 31 August 2026. Teffo's intervention, claiming violations of constitutional rights, left the accused and the courtroom spectators in a state of disbelief and confusion.
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Source: Briefly News
