New witness takes stand at the trial of Matlala and co-accused

New witness takes stand at the trial of Matlala and co-accused. Skip to content Menu Home | LIVE | Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and co-accused in court Image Credits : SABC News SABC News 15 September 2026, 10:29 [SAST] A key witness for the defence is expected to take the stand in the attempted murder trial of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four others, when it resume at the High Court in Johannesburg.

What happened

It makes for a lengthy, three-hour treatise, with a first act that sets up the trial and a second one that takes us into the courtroom as RSDO83 stands accused as the first robot to murder a human. Matlala, his wife, Tsakani, alleged hitman Musa Kekana, Nthabiseng Nzama and and Tiego Mabusela are accused of orchestrating three failed assassination attempts targeting his former girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, businessman Joe Sibanyoni and music producer Seunkie Mokubung, popularly known as DJ Vettys.

Skip to content Menu Home | Mncube to respond to cellphone evidence in Meyiwa murder trial Third accused Mthobisi Prince Mncube (middle) consulting with attorney Tshepo Thobane during the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial. Image Credits : SABC-News-MeyiwaAccused1-SiphoKekana SABC News 15 September 2026, 09:40 [SAST] Accused number three in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Mthobisi Mncube, is expected to respond to the evidence given by a cellphone and data expert when the case resumes in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday morning.

Photograph: Tony BartholomewReviewThe Trial of Romeo Oscar review – Ayckbourn goes back to the future with android accused of murderStephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughThe playwright explores our relationship with technology, asks if robots have souls and even questions the value of art in this sci-fi courtroom dramaFor play number 92, Alan Ayckbourn returns to his preoccupation of exploring where we as a species are heading through a science-fiction lens. Skip to main contentSkip to navigation Heavy metal … Richard Stacey and Olivia Woolhouse in The Trial of Romeo Oscar by Alan Ayckbourn at the Stephen Joseph theatre, Scarborough.

In The Trial of Romeo Oscar, the playwright famed for his domestic comedies looks to the year 2194 when humans have spread about the galaxy and androids live alongside us.

The wider picture

One of them, RSDO83, is on trial for the murder of a teenage girl in his charge. View image in fullscreenTech on trial … from left, Leigh Symonds, Hayden Wood and Russell Richardson. A consultant at tracking company C-Track, Eric Deysel, is currently testifying for the defence. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. This follows the conclusion of testimony by Tsholanang Golele of Vodacom on Monday. Golele’s testimony aimed to assist the court in determining whether the cellphone records of the late Mabhungu Ntuli should be allowed as evidence.

The State has argued that Mncube’s evidence is contradicted by Ntuli’s cellphone movements, which place him with Ntuli on 26 October 2014, the day Meyiwa was murdered. The Defence counsel says Ntuli’s girlfriend was in possession of his cellphone to communicate with him on the day of the murder.

What has been reported

However, Golele says he cannot tell who was in possession of the phone at the time. This is Ayckbourn philosophising about the future of humanity as we sit at an obvious inflection point, asking what this moment in our relationship with technology means and where it will lead us. The questions running through the play are manifold, complex and echo those asked by sci-fi writers for decades: can robots hurt humans? He is also questioning the value of art and even its purpose.

Photograph: Tony BartholomewThe robot’s name is pertinent. R is Romeo in the phonetic alphabet and RSDO83 raised a child called Juliet. Olivia Woolhouse as Hermione Quinque, drafted in to play Juliet in court, is becoming a star of the SJT stage in this, her third production at the venue. There are so many questions and concepts being juggled that it would be impossible for them to arrive at resolutions: it might leave you wondering, to borrow a line from Shakespeare’s tragedy, “what satisfaction canst thou have tonight”?

What happens next

For all that, it’s still an Ayckbourn, which means you will laugh and you will be left with much to ponder. Explore more on these topicsTheatreAlan AyckbournComedy (Stage)Comedy (Culture)Stephen Joseph theatreRobotsRomeo and JulietreviewsShareReuse this contentMost viewedMost viewed

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across sabcnews.com, theguardian.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.