During the trial of Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, his legal representative Advocate Annelene van den Heever confronted Judge Cassim Moosa over his dismissive body language during cross-examination.The advocate halted proceedings to address the judge's apparent disapproval of her questioning, asserting that his reactions were unprofessional.

The tension arose during van den Heever's cross-examination of security guard Bethuel Mzamo Cele, who survived an alleged assassination attempt on taxi boss Joe 'Ferrari' Sibanyoni.

The judge initially questioned the relevance of her line of inquiry, but allowed the proceedings to continue after van den Heever emphasized her right to test the witness's evidence.The case involves Matlala, his wife, and three others facing 25 charges including murder, fraud, and illegal firearm possession.

The prosecution alleges Matlala orchestrated multiple shootings targeting Sibanyoni and others between 2022 and 2024, with 11 attempted murder charges carrying life sentences.Van den Heever also criticized Cele's testimony, disputing his claims about ballistic evidence and accusing him of obstructing justice.The trial highlights the high-stakes legal battle and the courtroom's role in scrutinizing both witness credibility and judicial conduct.