Former partner reached out for help

Businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala told the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court this week that his ex-girlfriend, actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, contacted him repeatedly after she was shot on the N1 highway near Sandton in 2023. Matlala, who runs CAT Protection Services, said Thobejane reached out from October 2023 until June 2024 for assistance and protection.

Matlala is currently facing multiple serious charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering, alongside four co-accused: his wife Tsakani Matlala, Musa Kekana, Tiegi Floyd Mabusela, and Mabusela’s daughter Nthabiseng Nzama, who is a state witness.

The incident left Thobejane with a gunshot wound to her foot, while a female passenger suffered a serious spinal injury.

Denial of all charges

Appearing in shackles under heavy police guard, Matlala, 49, strongly denied the allegations through his lawyer, Advocate Laurence Hodes SC.

“I intend to plead not guilty to all these charges should this matter proceed to trial. I am confident I will be found not guilty at the close of the State’s case, as there is no evidence upon which a court could reasonably convict me,” he stated in his bail affidavit.

He also emphasized that he was unaware of the shooting when it happened and only learned of it via news and social media.

Relationship context

Matlala and Thobejane were in a relationship for about 13 months from early 2020 to September 2021. He described their breakup as amicable and said they remained cordial afterward.

“The victim contacted me several times after the shooting, asking for help because of my expertise in security. I did not intervene due to the ongoing police investigation,” Matlala said. He included social media messages and news articles as annexures to support his claim.

Co-accused and conspiracy claims

Matlala denied conspiring with anyone, including his co-accused, to orchestrate the attack. “I never met with or conspired with anyone to plan or carry out the shooting or any other crime,” he said.

State opposes bail

The State argued strongly against bail, calling Matlala a “dangerous criminal with no regard for human life.” Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of the attack, noting the permanent injury to the female passenger and categorizing the case as one of gender-based violence, given that the primary victim is his former partner.

The State also raised concerns over flight risk, citing Matlala’s ownership of a private jet and multiple international trips between 2012 and 2024. Officials highlighted that records suggest he may have entered South Africa informally, raising further concerns.

Witness tampering allegations were also cited, particularly his communications with co-accused Mabusela’s daughter. Matlala’s criminal history includes a 2001 conviction for housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, and at least 11 arrests on various charges including attempted murder and illegal firearm possession.

Bail hearing postponed

The bail application has been postponed to 8 September 2025 by Magistrate Dyta Prinsloo, giving the State time to respond to new claims raised in Matlala’s affidavit.

Social media reactions have been heated, with some questioning the integrity of the court process and others urging patience for the judicial process to take its course.

As the drama unfolds, all eyes remain on the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court to see whether Matlala will secure bail and how the complex web of allegations will progress toward trial.

{Source: IOL}

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