Terry Pheto has been one of South Africa’s media darlings ever since making her film debut back in 2005 as the lead actress on the Oscars’ winning film Tsotsi. Having then paved a career for herself as a South African international actress that worked in predominantly European productions like A United Kingdom, Madiba and Faces.
Read more: Terry Pheto Introduces Us To Her Star-Studded Savage Beauty Cast
Read more: Terry Pheto Introduces Us To Her Star-Studded Savage Beauty Cast
It is for this reason that it was believed that she was making lucrative money via these projects as her last acting credit was in 2018, and since then she has ventured into producing. Her most recent production to have premiered was the Netflix original The Brave Ones.
But in one single stroke, or tweet to be specific, Terry Pheto’s brand from actress and activist was tarnished as she was linked to a National Lottery Council (NLC) corruption scandal. As shared before:
“The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) welcomes a preservation order from the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria to freeze nine luxury properties in Pretoria, Centurion, Hartbeespoort and Johannesburg, a BMW 420i and two ocean basket franchises in the East Rand with the combined value of approximately R25 million.
SIU investigations in the affairs of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) had revealed that the acquisition of the properties was funded. by the Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) with money they had received, under the auspices of grant funding, from the NLC.”
While the matter came as a surprise, it was this specific part which seemed to shock tweeps more as they looked for the humour in the matter as part of the thread read:
“...restrains:
•Moitheri Pheto
•Lesley Ramulifho
•Collin Mukondeleli Tshisimba
•Fulufhelo Promise Kharivhe
•AO Residence Trust represented by Mashudu Shandukani
•Rasemate Family Trust represented by Rebotile Malomane”
From Terry to Moitheri, who is the real scammer?
Upon discovery that Terry Pheto’s real name is Moitheri, tweeps had a field day with this revelation. Some tweeps were genuinely shocked at the news as they had never heard her real name before. As such, tweeps also wanted to know what the name means as shared with the tweet, which explains that:
“Moitheri is one who planned herself. As in her own coming into the world. It's a name that may be given to babies who were not planned, but came unexpectedly. Maybe even circumstances not allowing.”
But outside of those that were shocked to find out her real name. It seems there were those that went to the timeline to join in on the roast of Moitheri “Terry” Pheto. From dragging the actress for the fact that she is most celebrated as the lead actress for Tsotsi, to tweeps suggesting that the looming corruption allegations make sense considering the affluence she has accrued without any notable public work.
In the time since the story has broken and garnered virality on social media, Pheto has yet to address the matter in the form of a formal statement. But this might not be a surprise considering that Pheto is part of the announced cast that is set to be part of the BBC remake of Shaka Zulu titled King Shaka which is believed to be currently in production.