Police have named businessman and Tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, saying they have found proof linking him to the shooting of former Muvhango actress Tebogo Thobejane.
Cat who is reported to have made millions from government tenders was arrested for allegedly trying to kill the actress. 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 he is also being investigated in connection with the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
Previously he could not be named as he was still under investigation for alleged money laundering from Prasa. Reports state that 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.
Two hitmen, Musa Kekana and Floyd Mabusela have been arrested along with Cat.
In one message, Matlala allegedly told the men: “Shoot her in the face so that her family doesn’t recognise her.” Thobejane was however shot in the foot while leaving Saint nightclub in Sandton and her friend took a bullet to the spine and is still in the hospital and doctors fear she may never walk again. The reports also state that 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.
