- The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption arrested at least 12 senior police officers and a company director in Tuesday night raids. Bo
- Investigators say Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala bribed top police officers to help his company secure a R360 million South African Police Service contract.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has arrested at least 12 high ranking police officers and a company director over a police tender worth R360 million.
The group was arrested during raids on Tuesday night.
Investigating Directorate Against Corruption spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the arrests are linked to a contract awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District.
Investigators say Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala bribed top police officers, including generals, to help his company get the deal.
Mamothame said all the accused are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. They face charges of corruption, fraud and breaking the Public Finance Management Act.
The contract was awarded in 2024. It later became a major issue at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and in Parliament’s inquiry into crime networks inside the South African Police Service and the criminal justice system.
In November last year, Matlala gave evidence about how Medicare24 Tshwane District got the health services contract from the South African Police Service.
The tender was advertised at R360 million. But R600 million was available in the police budget.
South African Police Service chief financial officer Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that the contract was flagged as possible irregular spending in the first week of March 2024. She said it was confirmed as irregular in May.
The Medicare24 Tshwane District business was said to have come through Mike van Wyk, who lives on the same estate as Matlala.
Van Wyk owns Medicare24 Holdings. Matlala’s company was registered under Medicare24 Holdings as part of a franchise deal.
The agreement was that Matlala would pay a management fee to Medicare24 Holdings for every contract won by Medicare24 Tshwane District.
Matlala is already facing other serious charges. These include attempted murder, money laundering and defeating the ends of justice.
Those charges are linked to the 2023 shooting of his former lover, actress Tebogo Thobejane.
Thobejane was injured when her vehicle was ambushed and shot at.
Matlala has also been named in the Thembisa Hospital corruption scandal. The Special Investigating Unit said he benefited from at least R13 million through procurement deals.
Pictured above: 12 senior police officers are in custody for Medicare24 tender graft.
Image source: X
