The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it remains confident in its corruption case against alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala despite the collapse of a plea and sentence agreement.
Matlala recently withdrew from the proposed agreement, but the NPA insists the decision will not weaken the state's case or affect the prosecution of the other accused.
Matlala is among 17 people facing charges linked to the alleged irregular awarding of a R228 million South African Police Service (SAPS) tender to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said prosecutors believe they have sufficient evidence to proceed with the case.
"The NPA holds the firm view that his withdrawal will not negatively impact the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption's case against the 17 accused, as we believe there is sufficient evidence to sustain the charges against all the accused in this matter," Kganyago said.
He said plea and sentence agreements are a recognised legal mechanism used to avoid lengthy court proceedings while securing cooperation from an accused person and obtaining evidence that may not otherwise be available.
"We assure members of the public that a plea and sentence agreement is a legally recognised and strategically viable mechanism to prevent a protracted trial by concluding an agreement with a cooperating accused person against whom the state has a formidable case. It is certainly not an indication of the state's lack of confidence in its case," he said.
Kganyago added that the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) is now focused on ensuring that the trial proceeds without unnecessary delays.
The NPA reiterated that plea agreements remain an important tool in the criminal justice system and stressed that the collapse of the proposed agreement does not diminish the strength of the evidence the state intends to present in court.