Tebogo Thobejane slams public praise for ex Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala: ‘PR can’t erase real crimes’

South African actress Tebogo Thobejane has broken her silence after seeing her former boyfriend, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, grab attention online during his recent appearance before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee.

While Matlala sits behind bars at Kgoši Mampuru II Correctional Centre awaiting trial, the public seemed more focused on his style and looks than the serious allegations against him.

Matlala is charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering, which he denies.  

Thobejane and Matlala were once a high-profile couple, but their relationship ended amid serious trust and safety concerns. 

In October 2023, Thobejane was shot in the foot during a car ambush that left a friend paralysed.

Following the incident, she felt unsafe in South Africa and reportedly left the country to protect herself, highlighting the ongoing impact of the trauma she endured.

The split, coupled with the alleged criminal activity, makes seeing him celebrated online especially painful.

Naturally, the public’s reactions struck a nerve.

On Tuesday, December 2, Thobejane took to her Instagram Stories to express her disbelief and suspicion over the sudden wave of admiration for Matlala. 

“My intuition is loud: something here doesn’t add up. When the whole nation suddenly ‘loves’ someone they once feared, it usually means the narrative is being managed behind the scenes,” she wrote. 

Thobejane suggested that the attention could be part of a deliberate attempt to soften Matlala’s public image.

 “Have you ever noticed how blogs suddenly start hyping someone, and how the tone of the whole country shifts overnight? We as a nation get captured so easily. We forget the real crimes, the people who were hurt, and the lives that were lost. We let power rewrite the truth right in front of us.”

She also highlighted how quickly public narratives can be manipulated.

“Many of us have experienced how quickly a narrative can be twisted to protect the right people. And honestly, we’re shocked that we as South Africans don’t see what’s happening. We watch the story being rewritten in real time, and somehow, we accept it.”

Thobejane made it clear that no amount of online attention could erase what she endured.

“It’s easy to laugh and move on, but real crimes happened, and real people suffered. PR can clean an image, but it can’t fix what was destroyed. At the end of the day, prayer is the only thing we have, because God sees everything.”