Senior officials of the South African Police Service (SAPS) are not being deliberately targeted by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
IDAC, a division of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), condemns the false allegations circulated on social media platforms, which insinuate that the directorate is deliberately targeting senior police officials.
This follows the arrest of 12 senior police officers and the serving of summons to the national police commissioner in relation to an allegedly irregular contract awarded by SAPS to Medicare 24, a company owned by Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is also an accused in the matter.
Investigation timeline and referral process
The NPA has indicated from the outset that this matter was referred to IDAC in 2024, whereupon investigations were conducted. The matter was also referred to IDAC by the police’s Risk Audit Unit for investigation after suspicions of irregularities were discovered.
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“It is therefore irresponsible and reckless for certain formations of society and individuals to create a narrative that the arrests resulted from submissions made at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Parliament Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate allegations made by the KZN Police Commissioner in June 2024,” stated Henry Mamothame, IDAC spokesperson.
“IDAC respects the work done by the commission and the Ad Hoc Committee and will abide by the recommendations that follow.”
Commitment to legal process and collaboration
“Such false narratives seek to create divisions within the law enforcement fraternity at a time when South Africans demand to see the wheels of justice in motion in a collaborative manner to fight criminals, not each other,” Mamothame continued.
“Society also demands to see all law enforcement agencies collaborating in the fight against corruption – something that IDAC seeks to honour in all of its work and engagements.”
According to the statement, a judge was appointed to oversee and ensure compliance and accountability regarding how the division operates. This also affords every member of society a platform to report any improper action by any official within the division, including the investigating director.
IDAC subscribes to the principle of investigating and prosecuting without fear, favour, or prejudice. Every action taken has followed all due processes of the law, with arrests based on the evidence at hand.
IDAC calls on all South Africans to allow the law to take its course and to follow all court processes, where all evidence relating to the Medicare 24 case and other cases within its purview will be examined.
The view shared by certain individuals that others should have been charged is unfortunate, as IDAC had to deal with matters within its remit and based on the evidence it contains. Issues relating to other persons arose at the Madlanga Commission, and when these are referred to IDAC, they will be acted upon without fear, favour, or prejudice.
‘Do not fall prey to false narratives’
Regarding the arrests, no rules were flouted in arresting the accused in the Medicare 24 matter or any other matter where the accused were summoned to appear before court. The process followed was lawful in all aspects.
Society should therefore remain vigilant not to fall prey to false narratives created to destabilise the fight against corruption. The attacks and baseless speculation also have the potential to place the lives of officials working on these complex cases – and their families – at risk, IDAC warned.
