When tabloid whispers become front-page headlines
It began as a wild claim. Businessman and attempted-murder suspect Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala told a parliamentary committee that he once handed over R500 000 in cash to another person—and that he’d carried the money in a Woolworths shopping bag. The allegation surged through South Africa’s tabloids and legal headlines. Among the names caught in the storm was actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, who previously dated Matlala.
Now she has spoken out. Thobejane rejects any suggestion that she was involved in that bag full of cash. Her response adds a fresh, human dimension to a story that’s become as much about scandal as it is about survival and public scrutiny.
From glamour to gunfire
Thobejane and Matlala were once in a relationship that, by her own account, began with charm and promise. She described him as attentive and generous, someone “many women are taught to trust.” Their romance lasted around 13 months before ending in 2021.
Two years later, things took a dark turn. On 23 October 2023, Thobejane was shot at while driving near Sandton. The incident left her shaken and with lasting trauma. Police linked the attack to a network allegedly connected to Matlala. He was arrested in 2025 and remains in custody, facing serious charges, including attempted murder and alleged corruption linked to a massive tender deal.
In the wake of these events, Thobejane previously denied any involvement, insisting, “I never snitched.”
The Woolies bag bombshell
Matlala’s claim about the R500 000 cash payment—wrapped inside a Woolworths carry bag—resurfaced in hearings before an ad hoc parliamentary committee investigating corruption and state-linked crime. According to him, the cash was to smooth over police raids and recover seized firearms related to a large contract his company held with the national police.
Though the media spotlight landed partly on Thobejane because of her past relationship with him, she argues firmly that the bag was never hers. She declined to link her name to that dramatic moment, calling for clarity, transparency, and respect for her truth.
What this means for survivors, justice, and public perception
Thobejane’s refusal to be drawn into the Woolies bag saga does more than defend her name. It highlights how trauma, fame, and media narratives can collide—especially for women caught up in criminal investigations tied to powerful men.
In South Africa, where public interest in corruption and crime runs high, this incident shows how quickly personal and legal stories overlap. For Thobejane, the stakes are not just reputational but deeply emotional. She has spoken publicly about rebuilding herself brick by brick, protecting her peace, and learning to trust her intuition again.
A moment for reckoning and empathy
In a world that often rushes to judge, Thobejane’s stand invites a more nuanced view. She is not just an actress or socialite. She is someone recovering from violence, facing public curiosity, and resisting being reduced to page-three gossip.
Whether Matlala’s claims hold any truth or end up exposed in court remains to be seen. What is clear is that the woman once linked to those claims is speaking up—not to dramatise, but to reclaim control of her story.
Source: Briefly News
Featured Image: Scrolla.Africa
