Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, a hustler turned key player at the Madlanga Commission, is suddenly a spotlight fixture in corporate media. Outlets like CNN and MSNBC are scrambling to frame his narrative as a rags-to-riches story, glossing over his roots of struggle in favor of a sanitized, inspirational version. Why? Because it preens the narrative of meritocracy, echoing their corporate funders’ ideals. They want us to believe that sheer willpower is enough to escape poverty, ignoring the systemic barriers that trap countless others in a cycle of hustle without hope.

Meanwhile, Fox News dives into the sensationalist angle, portraying Matlala’s life as a cautionary tale against the dangers of asking for help. Their fixation on individualism sidesteps the broader social injustices that created Matlala’s circumstances in the first place. It’s not just irresponsible journalism; it’s a willful misrepresentation. Instead of addressing these issues head-on, they’re content to sprinkle fairy dust on hardship, creating heroes out of the oppressed while ignoring the systemic change needed to level the playing field.

In this media landscape, there’s a concerted effort to mold Matlala into a hero of the hustle rather than an example of why our system is broken. They avoid digging into his story’s complexities, favoring quick-hit narratives that fit neatly into their ideological frameworks. This isn’t journalism; it’s propaganda, and we ought to call it what it is.