Culture Craze
Tebogo Thobejane Sets the Record Straight on the R500 000 Woolies Bag Claim
A rumour that spiralled into a national headline
Every so often, a claim lands so loudly that it seems to rattle the entire country. That is exactly what happened when businessman and attempted murder suspect Vusimuzi Cat Matlala told a parliamentary committee that he once handed over R500 000 in cash, casually carried inside a Woolworths shopping bag. South Africans reacted instantly. Social media was filled with disbelief, jokes about Woolies bags becoming luxury currency, and concern about what this meant for ongoing corruption investigations.
The story might have remained another jaw-dropping headline had it not brushed up against actress and social figure Tebogo Thobejane. Her past relationship with Matlala positioned her at the edge of a narrative that had nothing to do with her, yet her name appeared in the public glare once again.
Now she has had enough. Thobejane has made it clear that she wants her truth on the record.
From charm to chaos
Thobejane has never hidden that her relationship with Matlala began much like many South African romances. She described him as charming, attentive, and generous. The kind of man many women are encouraged to trust. Their relationship lasted just over a year before ending in 2021.
Life moved on until October 2023, when her world shifted violently. She came under fire while driving near Sandton. The shooting left her traumatised and desperate for safety. Investigators linked the attack to a criminal network allegedly tied to Matlala. In 2025, he was arrested and remains in custody while facing attempted murder and corruption charges connected to a major police tender.
Thobejane has repeatedly insisted that she had no role in any wrongdoing. She stated openly that she never cooperated with the police against him and that she was never part of his criminal dealings.
The Woolies bag moment that dragged her name back into headlines
Matlala’s testimony about the R500 000 cash payment resurfaced during an ad hoc parliamentary inquiry into corruption. According to him, that half a million rand was meant to smooth over police raids and recover seized guns linked to his company’s contract with the national police service.
The detail that stunned the country was not only the size of the bribe but also the image of that money sitting inside a Woolworths carrier bag. The claim sparked memes, media frenzy, and a flurry of speculation.
Thobejane, however, wants one thing understood. The bag was not linked to her. She rejects any attempt to place her in the story and has called for fairness and clear boundaries as she continues to rebuild her life.
Image 1: Bona Magazine
A reminder of what it means to survive public trauma
For many women in South Africa, Thobejane’s voice in this moment resonates deeply. The country is no stranger to cases involving powerful men, high-stakes corruption, and the women who are pulled into the narrative against their will.
Her rejection of the Woolies bag claim is not only about distancing herself from the scandal. It is also about challenging the way public figures, especially women, are dragged into legal stories because of past relationships rather than facts. Thobejane has shared glimpses of her healing process. She speaks about learning to trust her instincts again, rebuilding her emotional foundation, and refusing to let gossip define her.
Looking ahead with clarity
Whether Matlala’s dramatic claims hold up in court will depend on evidence, not speculation. What is clear for now is that Thobejane is reclaiming her story in a country where public judgement often spreads faster than the truth.
She stands not as a headline or a rumour but as a woman who has survived violence, confronted fear, and now demands to be seen on her own terms.
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Source: Bona Magazine
Featured Image: SurgeZirc SA
