ACHU… MORENA CAT MATLALA TAKE IT LIKE A MAN

Vusimusi Cat Matlala pleads guilty

By Vusumzi Moyo
Activist

Vusimuszi ‘Cat’ Matlala takes it like a man! Homeboy and namesake does not flinch even when a long list of charges is being read to him.

The only thing that seemed to disturb him is the sound of the door hinges whenit opened.

I wonder if it were being vigilant, suspecting someone would come for him, or it was just curiosity.

And when he looks, his eyes stay on the object, studying it.

I set my eyes on his each time he looked forward.

They are sharp, but not hurried, almost lazy, yet focused. Confident.

I look into them when he looks at the camera briefly.

And instantaneously I understand why they call him “Cat”.

One thing, they can’t be described as cold, although somehow there is that element about them.

He listens intently to the charges, the judge reading them as if it were God reading a sinner his sins before sending him to purgatory….

“Do you agree?…”
“Yes, agree.”
“Do you understand?…”
“Yes, I understand.”

This goes on several times until the charges are read to him, and
“How do you plead to count…”
“Guilty… Guilty… Guilty….”

You are listening and almost think this does not end.

Each count must be carrying a long sentence.

No wonder there is talk of negotiation, based on the deal he agreed to.

And the deal? Probably to give the name of the man he could not expose at the Ad Hoc Committee inquiry.

The lawyers must have said “If you don’t give them this man, you are looking at life.

But if you give them that one or those ones you can get away with 25….”

But you would never know.

It could be 50, but what difference does it make if he doesn’t? The man has to think of his children.

His wife might get away with 5 years.

‘Not bad’, the feline one must have reasoned.

‘The children.

My children need their mother.Mnx! These rats can fry…’

So, my homeboy is getting ready to go back ‘home’. He might come back looking like a white-bearded sage.

I noticed he likes brushing it, the beard. Maybe that’s where his ideas are… For now he will be at New Lock’s C-Max.

The guys will be able to visit, for sure.

If they are not inside, binne kant, themselves!

I can almost hear them say, “Sure, Ma se kind. Moni wari.

Go tla loka…” And he would be assured all will be fine, inside, at ‘home’. Mon die ouens.

Achuu Morena!