Musa Kekana has told the Johannesburg High Court that police officers allegedly assaulted him, covered him with a duvet and threatened to shoot him during his arrest in April 2024.
Also see: Musa Kekana to take the stand as Cat Matlala trial continues
Musa, who is accused alongside alleged crime boss Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and three others, gave evidence on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, during a trial-within-a-trial on the circumstances of his arrest and whether evidence obtained afterwards should be admitted, TimesLIVE reported.
Musa Kekana describes alleged police treatment
Musa told the court that he was arrested on 17 April 2024 and transported to his home in a white Toyota Fortuner. He alleged that officers entered the property without his permission and took him to a bedroom, where Captain Phumi Sekgobela allegedly demanded that he reveal the whereabouts of firearms.
According to Musa’s testimony, he denied knowing anything about the firearms. He alleged that an officer then covered him with a duvet and threatened to shoot him if he did not provide information.
He told the court that he believed he was going to die and began praying.
Musa further alleged that he was punched before being taken to the lounge, where he was tied up using his belt.
WATCH🚨
Musa Kekana told the Johannesburg High Court that after police allegedly suffocated him with a plastic bag until he coughed up blood, officers told him a paramedic had been called.
However, they later changed their minds and decided to leave with him after learning… https://t.co/9OQUj2tSuj pic.twitter.com/Ru0t3QGVUK
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) September 15, 2026
Also see: The Cat prowls again: Vusimuzi Matlala wins crucial legal access ahead of trial
Alleged suffocation with plastic bag
Musa told the court that a plastic carrier bag was then placed over his head several times, allegedly causing him to struggle to breathe.
He said the suffocation happened approximately three or four times and that on the final occasion he collapsed. He also claimed that he later began coughing up blood.
SABC News reported that Musa told the court the alleged suffocation was part of an attempt to force him to confess to the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.
Police have disputed the allegations
Musa’s allegations have been disputed by police witnesses.
Sergeant Maisela Ledwaba previously told the court that he did not witness Musa being assaulted or suffocated and rejected claims that a plastic bag had been placed over his head, according to EWN.
The trial-within-a-trial is examining the legality of Musa’s arrest and the circumstances surrounding evidence allegedly obtained afterwards. Musa is challenging the admissibility of that evidence.
As of Wednesday, 16 September 2026, Musa was expected to continue with cross-examination in the Johannesburg High Court.
Also see: Disbarred Malesela Teffo makes courtroom return at Cat Matlala murder trial
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