Four people, including businessman Vusumuzi Matlala and his wife, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on charges linked to an alleged fraudulent lease agreement.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s Gauteng Pretoria spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, Matlala, 50, Tsakani Matlala, 38, Claudette Masethe, 31, and Given Makofane, 46, are facing two counts of fraud, two counts of uttering and forgery.
Vusumuzi Matlala is also facing a charge of contravening the Identification Act.
It is alleged that in January 2025, the four accused acted with a common purpose to falsify documents to secure a lease agreement for a property in Waterkloof Heights, Pretoria, through a real estate agent.
Mahanjana said it was further alleged that between 13 and 21 January 2025, Vusumuzi Matlala unlawfully possessed an identity document issued in the name of Vusumuzi Dlamini, which purportedly linked the holder to the Eswatini Royal House.
Matlala opted not to bring a bail application during Wednesday’s court appearance.
The State did not oppose bail for the other three accused, who were each released on R20,000 bail.
Their bail conditions include not contacting state witnesses, reporting to their nearest police station, surrendering their passports to the investigating officer and informing the investigating officer if they intend travelling outside Gauteng.
The State intends opposing Matlala’s bail application, which is scheduled to be heard on 14 and 15 October 2026.
The case against the other three accused was postponed to 29 October 2026 for further investigation.
Mahanjana said the accused remain innocent until proven guilty.
