Tebogo Thobejane to share her side of the story on Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala in upcoming memoir

Socialite and actress Tebogo Thobejane is reportedly turning one of the darkest chapters of her life into a book, and this time, she is doing it in her own words.

According to various reports, Thobejane has officially started writing her debut memoir, which will focus on her experience involving controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

This comes months after she survived a targeted shooting that left her physically injured and emotionally shaken, forcing her to leave the country for a period of self-imposed exile.

While many people have only followed her story through court updates and social media headlines, it seems

Thobejane wants to shift the focus from gossip to the reality of what she says she lived through. And for someone whose life has been dissected publicly, a book is a way to take back control of the narrative.

Reports previously alleged that Thobejane was romantically linked to Matlala before things turned ugly. In October 2023, she survived a shooting incident on the N1 highway near Sandton, where her vehicle was allegedly ambushed and shot at multiple times.

Thobejane was injured during the attack, while her friend, who was also in the vehicle, reportedly suffered a spinal injury that left her paralysed.

The case quickly made headlines after Matlala was arrested and later faced serious charges linked to the shooting, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The matter has since been moving through the courts, with the case attracting attention because of the high-profile names involved and the disturbing nature of the allegations.

Thobejane has also spoken publicly about fearing for her life and feeling unsafe, which reportedly contributed to her decision to temporarily leave South Africa.

Back in the day, memoirs were mostly reserved for politicians, celebrities trying to clean up their image, or people who wanted to sell a dramatic “tell-all” story.

These days, memoir writing has evolved into something more socially relevant. It has become a space where people unpack trauma, survival, violence, and recovery without needing to shrink themselves into a neat media soundbite.

For survivors of gender-based violence and abuse, memoirs have become especially important because they do something court cases and news headlines often fail to do.

Thobejane has described the book as part of her process of “starting afresh."

This week, Matlala remains in custody after his transfer to eBongweni Super-Maximum Prison for security reasons. His pre-trial hearing was postponed, keeping the legal process unresolved.

The Madlanga Commission also kept him in the spotlight, with SAPS Brigadier Rachel Matjeng admitting to a romantic relationship with him but denying bribery claims, while more witnesses are expected to testify about his financial dealings.