By Dylan Bettencourt
- Tender boss Vusimuzi Matlala arrested for trying to have actress Tebogo Thobejane killed.
- Cops say they found messages and proof of payment to the hitmen.
Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, a businessman who made millions from government tenders, has been arrested for allegedly trying to have actress Tebogo Thobejane killed.
Police from the crime intelligence unit arrested him in Midrand on Wednesday. He is expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, where he will face charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Police say Matlala is also being investigated in connection with the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran. At the time, he could not be named because he was under investigation for stealing money from Prasa.
Now, police have named him, saying they have found proof linking him to the shooting of Thobejane.
According to sources, police obtained a search warrant and raided his homes in Pretoria and Johannesburg. They seized his cellphone and reportedly found WhatsApp messages between him and the hitmen.
In one message, Matlala allegedly told the men: “Shoot her in the face so that her family doesn’t recognise her.”
Thobejane, who starred in the soapie Muvhango, was shot on the N1 highway near Sandton in October last year. She was in a car with a friend when gunmen opened fire.
Thobejane was shot in the foot. Her friend was shot in the spine and is still in hospital. Doctors fear she may never walk again.
Police also say they found proof that Matlala paid the hitmen. “I can’t remember the amount, but the police found the proof of payment,” said a source.
It is not known why Matlala wanted Thobejane dead, but they are believed to have known each other.
Pictured above: Tebogo Thobejane.
Image source: @tebogocthobejane
