National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola appeared at the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court alongside Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and 16 others on charges relating to the alleged irregular awarding of a contract to Medicare24 Tshwane District for health services to the South African Police Service.
The matter was postponed to 26 June to allow for further investigations and disclosure of the docket to the accused.
Masemola faces four charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act, whilst Matlala and his co-accused face charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering. The charges stem from the alleged irregular awarding of a contract, valued at approximately R228 million, to Medicare24, a company owned by Matlala. Some reports have cited the contract value as R360 million.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption arrested 12 senior SAPS officials on 24 March in connection with the alleged irregular tender. Bail was granted to the arrested officers the following day.
Masemola made his first court appearance on 21 April, and two days later President Cyril Ramaphosa placed him on precautionary suspension. He was added as accused number 17 when he appeared alongside Matlala and co-accused on 13 May.
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The Medicare contract was subsequently cancelled following internal SAPS audits that identified irregularities in the procurement process. Matlala previously gave oral evidence before a parliamentary ad hoc committee regarding the SAPS contract awarded to his company.
The state indicated that new information emerged following consultations with Matlala, necessitating further investigation. Prosecutors committed to disclosing the docket to all accused by 26 June and confirmed that the charge sheet would be amended following Masemola’s inclusion in the matter.
The court granted a request by Matlala’s attorney to have his client kept at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility to enable the second phase of consultations to be completed timeously.
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