Picture: Four accused, Vusumuzi Matlala, his wife Tsakani Matlala, Claudette Masethe and Given Makofane/Supplied
By STAFF REPORTER
29 September 2026 – Four people have appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in connection with an alleged fraudulent lease agreement involving a property in Waterkloof Heights. The accused, Vusumuzi Matlala (50), his wife Tsakani Matlala (38), Claudette Masethe (31) and Given Makofane (46), are facing two counts of fraud, two counts of uttering and forgery.
Matlala faces an additional charge of contravening the Identification Act.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana alleged that during January 2025, the four accused acted with a common purpose by falsifying documents to secure a lease agreement for the Pretoria property through a real estate agent. Mahanjana further alleged that between 13 and 21 January 2025, Matlala unlawfully possessed an identity document issued in the name of Vusumuzi Dlamini, purporting to be associated with the Eswatini Royal House in an attempt to obtain the lease.
“Matlala elected not to bring a bail application at this stage. The state intends to oppose his bail application, which is scheduled to be heard on 14 and 15 October 2026. The state did not oppose bail for the other three accused, who were each released on R20 000 bail.
“Their bail conditions include that they may not contact state witnesses, must report to their nearest police station, must surrender their passports to the investigating officer and must inform the investigating officer, if they intend travelling outside the province,” she said.
Mahanjana added that the matter against Tsakani Matlala, Masethe and Makofane was postponed to 29 October 2026, for further investigation.
