The world of South African entertainment has once again collided with the country’s darker undercurrents of crime and violence. Actress and businesswoman Tebogo Thobejane, known for her role in Muvhango and her outspoken presence on social media, has reportedly fled South Africa. The reason: fear for her life after what prosecutors describe as an attempted hit linked to her ex-lover, businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The Bail Hearing That Shook the Courtroom
In a dramatic hearing at the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court, the state revealed that Thobejane is now living in hiding outside the country, too terrified to return. This came during the continuation of Matlala’s bail application, which has drawn intense public and media attention.
The 49-year-old businessman faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering, tied to a 2023 shooting along the busy N1 highway near Sandton. Thobejane was shot in the foot during the incident, while another woman traveling with her suffered devastating spinal injuries that left her paralysed.
Appearing under heavy police guard and shackled, Matlala was portrayed by the state as a dangerous man with the means and motive to orchestrate violence. Prosecutors argued that granting him bail would not only endanger Thobejane but also undermine public safety.
“I Feel Exposed, Unsafe and Unprotected”
Adding to the gravity of the case, the court heard that Thobejane herself had sent a WhatsApp message to investigators on the eve of the hearing. In it, she expressed the ongoing trauma she lives with daily.
“She requested that the court be informed she is still suffering after the incident because she feels exposed, unsafe, and unprotected every day,” the investigating officer testified.
For fans who followed Thobejane’s rise from acting to social media stardom and business ventures, this revelation was deeply unsettling. Her once glamorous, outspoken persona has been overshadowed by fear, exile, and uncertainty.
Matlala Denies the Allegations
Despite the weight of the accusations, Matlala’s legal team, led by Advocate Laurence Hodes SC, has maintained his innocence.
“Miss Thobejane was in a relationship with me that lasted approximately 13 months,” Hodes told the court. “The shooting happened three years after the relationship ended and it was I who ended it. There is no motive.”
Matlala insists the state’s claims of him being dangerous are baseless and unsubstantiated, portraying himself as the victim of a smear campaign.
The Bigger Picture: When Celebrity Meets Violence
South Africa has long struggled with high-profile cases where celebrity, wealth, and violence intersect. From musicians to TV stars, stories of targeted attacks, public feuds, and courtroom drama often dominate headlines.
For Thobejane, her case highlights a broader issue: the precarious safety of women in abusive or toxic relationships, even long after those relationships end. Her decision to leave the country underscores the deep mistrust many South Africans feel toward the justice system’s ability to protect them.
Social Media Reaction: Shock and Frustration
On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags with Thobejane’s name trended briefly as news broke of her flight from South Africa. Many users expressed sympathy, while others voiced frustration over what they see as a justice system too slow to shield victims.
“Imagine being famous, having money, and still not safe in SA,” one user wrote. Another added: “If Tebogo Thobejane has to run, what about ordinary women with no resources?”
The case is far from over. Magistrate Dyta Prinsloo postponed Matlala’s bail application to 17 September 2025, when judgment will be delivered. For now, Thobejane remains in hiding, her location undisclosed.
Her story, once about glitz and fame, is now a sobering reminder of how quickly lives can be derailed by violence, fear, and the fight for survival in South Africa.
{Source: JoburgETC}
Featured Image: JoburgETC
