Jackie Phamotse has reacted to the arrest of Tsakane Matlala, wife of alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, revisiting her earlier comments about the woman’s alleged role in her husband’s affairs.
“What did I tell you about that Woman being a mastermind?” Phamotse wrote on X on Tuesday, shortly after news broke that Tsakane had been arrested.
Tsakane was arrested on Tuesday, 22 September, in a fraud and corruption investigation involving alleged fraudulent property transactions in Gauteng.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that four people had been arrested.
“We do confirm the arrest is in relation to fraud and corruption on a number of cases which relates to the fraudulent acquiring of properties across Gauteng, utilising fraudulent documents,” Mathe said.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The arrest comes weeks after Phamotse discussed Tsakane during an interview on the SMXW podcast.
In the interview, Phamotse argued that women connected to powerful men should not automatically be viewed as passive partners or “slay queens”.
She specifically discussed Tsakane and described her as someone who, in her view, played an active role in managing her husband’s public and business image.
“She’s not a regular slay queen. She’s not. She’s a girl who masterminded how to make his business look presentable,” Phamotse said.
“She’s the networker. She’s the fixer.”
Phamotse also said Tsakane helped make Matlala look desirable in business and described her as the stylist who ensured that he was presentable to the world.
“She’s smart. She’s exceptionally smart,” Phamotse said.
Those comments formed part of a wider discussion in which Phamotse argued that investigators should pay closer attention to the networks surrounding alleged crime figures.
Her comments are now resurfacing following Tsakane’s arrest.
According to police, the investigation involves allegations that fraudulent documents were used to acquire properties in Gauteng. Another report linked the investigation to an allegedly fraudulent R95,000-a-month lease for a property in Waterkloof.
Tsakane is also facing a separate criminal case alongside her husband and three co-accused. That matter is before the Johannesburg High Court and has been postponed to 2 November.
The allegations in the new fraud investigation have not been tested in court.
Phamotse’s comments about Tsakane’s alleged role are also her own characterisation and should not be treated as established fact.
But following Tuesday’s arrest, the author appears to be standing by her earlier warning.
“What did I tell you?” she wrote.
