South Africa’s national police commissioner is set to appear in court next month on charges related to a controversial R 336 million health services tender, prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has been served with a summons to appear in court on 21 April, said Kaizer Kganyago, spokesman for South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority.
The case centres on a now-cancelled 2024 police tender for health services that was awarded to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is suspected of links to organised crime.
A police spokeswoman confirmed that Masemola will honour the court appearance, though it remains unclear what specific charges he will face.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said he had “noted” the confirmation of the charges and would address the issue “in accordance with the law”. The presidency added that he remained committed to ensuring the police force “remains stable and able to continue fulfilling its policing mandate”.
Fifteen people, including 12 police officers and a director of Matlala’s company, were charged on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption in the awarding of the tender. All were granted bail except Matlala, who had already received 50 million rand ($2,9 million) before the contract was terminated.
Described locally as a “tenderpreneur” — a term referring to individuals who have made fortunes through government contracts — Matlala shot to national prominence after a regional police chief accused the force and South Africa’s police minister of involvement in criminality.
The allegations triggered the minister’s removal from office and prompted the president to establish a formal commission of inquiry, turning the saga into a national spectacle. Broadcast daily on television and radio, the hearings have become a closely followed saga for South Africans.
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A separate parliamentary inquiry is also probing claims that senior officers had corrupt ties with crime bosses and took money for favours.
Matlala was arrested in May last year in connection with the 2023 attempt on his ex-partner Thobejane’s life. His name had already surfaced in the Tembisa Hospital scandal, where more than R2,2 billion rand was allegedly siphoned off.
The Tembisa hospital case cost whistleblower Babita Deokaran her life in 2021, when she was shot nine times outside her home.
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