South African actress, businesswoman, and socialite Tebogo Thobejane has stepped into a new role: as an advocate for the vulnerable. In early July 2025, she officially launched The Botlhale Foundation, a groundbreaking initiative born from the ashes of her own harrowing experiences with violence and relentless public persecution.
Tebogo Thobejane was shot in October 2023 outside a nightclub in Bryanston. She was in the car with a friend when three men in what looked like a florist vehicle and a white Audi pulled up and shot at them.
Tebogo Thobejane was grazed by a bullet on her back and survived. However, her friend was hit and left paralyzed. Tebogo believes it was a targeted attack rather than a robbery or hijacking.
Tebogo was planning to open a club before the shooting incident. It has since been widely reported that her shooting was organised by her married boyfriend, Vusumuzi ” Cat” Matlala.
The launch comes just days before the man accused of orchestrating her attempted murder, controversial tenderpreneur Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala, is scheduled to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on July 11, 2025, alongside other suspects linked to the attack. This confluence of events highlights a significant turning point for Thobejane, who is channelling her trauma into a formidable platform for change.
A New Chapter Forged in Trauma
Tebogo Thobejane’s journey to this point has been fraught with peril. In October 2023, she endured a terrifying assassination attempt when her vehicle was riddled with bullets on the N1 highway in Sandton. The brutal attack was not just physical; it was the horrifying culmination of years of severe cyberbullying, defamation, and character assassination that plagued her online presence. The relentless abuse deeply affected her as a public figure, a mother, and a woman.
Instead of retreating into silence, Thobejane has transformed her pain into a powerful new purpose. The Botlhale Foundation, aptly named after the Setswana word for “wisdom,” is her response. The foundation aims to be a sanctuary and a voice for those who have been silenced by abuse. Its core missions are to:
- Provide a safe haven for women, children, and marginalized groups affected by bullying, gender-based violence (GBV), and public shaming.
- Champion digital accountability by advocating for stronger policies and consequences for online abuse.
- Support survivors by connecting them with essential mental health resources.
- Educate and raise awareness by sparking crucial conversations around trauma, abuse, and the path to healing.
“I am a survivor,” Thobejane declared at the launch, her voice resonating with conviction. “So many women suffer in silence, judged and shamed. My foundation is a voice for the unheard and a call to action for South Africa to do better. We must protect our vulnerable people.”
Named after her son, the foundation’s launch has been widely praised across the nation, hailed as a courageous and necessary step in confronting the intertwined crises of violence, cyberbullying, and gender-based abuse in South Africa.
While the identity of Botlhale’s father remains unconfirmed, it is important to address other public rumors and allegations that have surrounded the media personality, though these should be treated with caution as they remain unverified.
Unverified Allegations Involving President Cyril Ramaphosa
In the past, rumors and unverified allegations have circulated in tabloid-style sources and on social media, suggesting a relationship or an encounter between Tebogo Thobejane and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. These sensational claims, some of which included allegations of a threesome involving a friend of Thobejane’s, have appeared in online tabloids. It is crucial to note that these reports lack credible evidence and have never been officially confirmed by any of the involved parties.
For his part, President Cyril Ramaphosa did admit in 2017 to having had a single extra-marital affair approximately eight years prior with a medical doctor. At the time, he firmly denied allegations of multiple other affairs or maintaining relationships with other women. There is no verified public record or credible evidence that links Tebogo Thobejane directly to President Ramaphosa in any confirmed romantic or sexual relationship. These allegations remain firmly in the realm of unsubstantiated rumors.
