Masemola and 13 co-accused return to court in R228m SAPS tender case

Suspended national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola and 13 co-accused appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday in connection with alleged corruption linked to a R228 million South African Police Service health-services tender.

State seeks amendments as case continues

The matter returned to court as the State indicated it wants to amend the charges against the accused. The group previously appeared in the Pretoria court on 26 June, when the State first said it intended to amend the charges.

Defence access to documents

At the June hearing, defence teams requested additional information, including access to the case docket. Most defence teams handed over USB drives to receive copies of documents, although not all had done so by the time of that hearing.

Charges and allegations

Masemola faces four counts of contravening the Public Finance Management Act, which relate to an alleged failure to fulfil his duties as an accounting officer. His co-accused face charges including fraud, corruption and money laundering.

The charges relate to the alleged irregular awarding of a R228 million SA Police Service health-services tender to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District. The contract was initially budgeted at about R360 million but was ultimately awarded for about R228 million.

The State alleges that at least R50 million was paid out before the contract was cancelled in May 2025 after an internal audit flagged irregularities.

Developments involving Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala

Alleged business tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was separated from the group after an earlier court appearance. The day after that separation, and after two months of negotiations, a plea and sentencing agreement between Matlala and the State was placed before the court.

Under the agreement Matlala pleaded guilty to all seven charges against him, including fraud, corruption and money laundering, and was expected to testify for the State against his former co-accused. The State and Matlala’s legal team proposed a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment with seven years suspended.

The magistrate rejected the eight-year effective sentence Matlala had bargained for, recommending 12 years of direct imprisonment instead. Matlala refused to accept the harsher term and exercised his right to withdraw from the agreement.

Position of the accused

Masemola has denied the charges against him.

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