PRETORIA – The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court has granted high-value bail to 12 police officers arrested alongside controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala in the high-stakes R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) healthcare tender fraud case. They appeared jointly for bail in court yesterday – Wednesday, 25 March, while Matlala’s bail was rejected in this tender fraud case involving his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.
Believed to the mastermind in fraud case, Matlala is currently in custody regarding a high-profile murder trial in which he faces multiple charges: attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. Bail amounts range from R40 000 to R80 000 for the 14 accused.
Kaizer Kganyago, national spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) of South Africa, said the arrests based on prima facie evidence were a result of an in-depth investigation by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), an independent unit within the NPA. He said that in 2024, a component of SAPS referred the matter to IDAC.
ALSO READ: Tembisa Hospital corruption: Gauteng health chief suspended
“The NPA’s IDAC effected the arrest of Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala together with 15 of his co-accused on charges of corruption, fraud, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), pertaining to the irregularities and collusive awarding of a contract to Medicare24 Tshwane District, an entity registered with Matlala as the sole director,” said Kganyago. He said included are two entities and a director of one of the entities.
ALSO READ: Demands for swift action following SIU’s R2 billion Tembisa Hospital corruption exposé
Kganyago said probing discovered collusion between some members of the police’s Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) and Matlala. “Treasury regulations were violated; Matlala and Medicare24 were favoured by SAPS BEC members, which will become apparent from the evidence later in the process. Medicare24 did not have the facilities/equipment and/or staff to fulfil the tender budgeted for approximately R360 million,” said Kganyago.
He said that owing to the collusion between the SAPS officials and Medicare24, the company was awarded the tender at the lowest bid of R228 million. “Matlala received a payment of just over R50 million before the unlawful contract was cancelled by SAPS. Some of the accused also benefited financially from this contract through money received from Matlala to which they were not entitled,” said Kganyago.
ALSO READ: South Africa’s top cop to face corruption charges over multi-million-rand tender scandal
The fraud matter was postponed to 13 May with further investigations continuing.
Listed accused are:
Tumisho Nehemiah Maleka (Procurement Officer)
Matlala (director of Medicare24 Tshwane District)
James Murray (service provider)
Captain Brian Neville
Brigadier Rachel Matjeng
Brigadier Alpheus Thembinkosi Ngema
Brigadier Patrick Nethengwe
Brigadier Kirsty Jonker
Brigadier Petunia Reabetsoe Lenono
Brigadier Onica Ofentse Tlhoale
Major General Busisiwe Precious Temba
Colonel Nonjabulo Nomfundo Mngadi
Colonel Anton Paulsen
Colonel Natsenge Johannes Monyai.
ALSO READ: Controversial businessman Cat Matlala’s murder trial moves to High Court
