- Payments linked to businessman Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala went through friends and fake companies tied to police, finance and procurement officials.
- An internal audit exposed fake staff, unlawful changes, and R50-million already paid out before the deal was cancelled.
Police members were supposed to get health checks through a company tied to controversial businessman Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala. Instead, investigators say the deal turned into a feeding scheme for insiders.
Bank records show Matlala’s company made secret payments to cover their tracks. Brigadier Rachel Matjeng from finance and Captain Brian Cartwright from procurement are two names that keep coming up, News24 revealed.
Cartwright helped write the tender rules, and sat on the committee that chose the winner. Soon after, payments started flowing.
In one case, R100,000 went to a butchery in Mamelodi owned by Matjeng’s friend. Another R5,000 went to a dormant company linked to Cartwright’s cousin.
Photos show the cousin and Cartwright together at a cricket match and at a wedding. He denies wrongdoing but admits knowing Matlala.
The tender was awarded to Medicare24 Tswane District, Matlala’s company, to handle checks for 180,000 police members. But after an audit flagged fraud and lies about staff and directors, national commissioner Fannie Masemola cancelled the deal.
Brigadier Petunia Lenono, who helped set up the tender, resigned before it was signed and later joined Matlala as a consultant.
Now the corruption directorate is probing the entire affair. Matlala, Matjeng and Cartwright refused to answer questions.
Pictured above: Cat Matlala.
Image source: File
