By Anita Dangazele
- Police commissioner Fannie Masemola was served with a warrant and must appear in court on 21 April over the disputed R360-million tender.
- Sixteen people and two companies face charges of fraud, money laundering and breaking finance laws over the police health services deal.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola is now caught up in a huge corruption case over a R360-million health services tender.
Masemola was served with a warrant and must appear in court on 21 April.
National Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that Masemola is expected to appear in court on a summons linked to the Medicare police contract.
“General Masemola remains fully committed to upholding the rule of law and integrity of the office he serves. He has taken note of the charges brought against him and he has pledged full cooperation with all law processes and he welcomes any investigation or due process that seeks to address allegations of wrongdoing,” Mathe said.
The case centres on a contract awarded to businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, who is also known as Cat. Investigators believe the tender process was manipulated.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has already arrested 16 accused. They include Matlala, senior police officers, two companies and people linked to the deal.
The accused face charges of fraud, money laundering, corruption and breaking the Public Finance Management Act.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the tender was awarded to Medicare 24 Tshwane District, a company linked to Matlala as its sole director.
Investigators said there were serious problems in the way the contract was awarded. They said some members of the police Bid Evaluation Committee worked with Matlala and unfairly favoured his company.
The authority said treasury rules were broken during the process. It said Medicare 24 did not have the facilities, equipment or staff needed to do the work.
Even so, the company still got the contract, which was budgeted at about R360-million.
The National Prosecuting Authority said Matlala received just over R50-million before the contract was cancelled by the South African Police Service.
Investigators also believe some of the accused got money from Matlala that they were not meant to receive.
Matlala is seen as the key figure in the case. The state is opposing bail for him. He said he would not apply at this stage and his matter was postponed to 7 April 2026 so he can speak to his lawyer.
The rest of the accused were granted bail of between R40,000 and R80,000 with strict conditions. The wider case was postponed to 13 May 2026 for more investigation.
The scandal has rocked the leadership of the South African Police Service and more arrests could still follow.
Pictured above: National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
Image source: South African Police Service
