By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to all 12 police officers implicated in the awarding of a R360 million SAPS health tender to Medicare 24 Tshwane District (Pty) Ltd. co-owned by the controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The tender was related to services involving retirement due to ill health, wellness screenings and medical assessments prior to employment.
But it was later cancelled.
The police officers face corruption charges over irregular appointment and they have denied wrongdoing.
The accused are: James Murray, managing director of Medicare24 Group, Matlala; and police officials Busi Temba, Ofentse Tlhoaele, Kistey Jonker, Thembinkosi Ngema, Nehemiah Maleka, Johannes Monyai, Captain Brian Catwright, Anthony Paulsen, Rachelle Matjeng, Petunia Lenono, Nonjabulo Mngadi, and Patrick Nethengwe.
Also facing charges with them is Matlala’s business associate, James Murray, and two of Matlala’s companies, including Medicare 24 Tshwane District (Pty) Ltd.
Matjeng previously testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that she was in an ‘on-and-off’ romantic relationship with Matlala.
During the proceedings, State said it would not oppose bail for the 12 and argued for amounts between R40,000 and R80,000. The state opposed bail for Matlala.
State prosecutor advocate Santhos Manilall singled out Cartwright and Matjeng for higher bail amounts of R80,000. Cartwright was labelled “one of the main instigators” by the NPA, as he was a facilitator on the bid approval committee and ensured Matlala would be awarded the bid.
Matlala is already in prison awaiting trial, having previously been denied bail in a separate case involving charges of attempted murder.
Fullview also learnt that National Commissioner Fannie Masemola is set to face criminal charges in a widening corruption scandal tied to R360-million SAPS health services tender, awarded to Matlala.
Masemola was served with a warrant on Wednesday to compel his court appearance, which is scheduled for April 21.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) launched a probe into allegations of fraud and corruption related to the 2024 tender.
“I’m seeing now that people are saying that we are doing this because of Madlanga [Commission of Inquiry]. No, that is not why we are doing this. We started investigating in 2024, and we were gathering all the information. We wanted to be court-ready before we made the arrests. That is why the arrests were made yesterday, because we know we have all the evidence, and we are court-ready.”
Government has welcomed the arrest of the police officials.
In a statement, the government said the arrests strike at the core of public trust, stressing that those entrusted to enforce the law cannot be allowed to undermine it.
“No individual is beyond scrutiny,” it said, calling the crackdown a necessary step to protect the integrity of law enforcement.
The government praised investigators for acting decisively, saying the arrests send a clear and forceful message across the public sector: corruption will be confronted, and those involved will be held accountable.
Meanwhile Matipandile Sotheni appeared briefly before the Brakpan Magistrates Court on Wednesday in connection with the fatal shooting of Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness D.
Van der Merwe was gunned down outside his Brakpan home in December, shortly after testifying at the commission, where he implicated senior officials from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department in an alleged cover-up.
Sotheni, a former member of the South African Police Service Special Task Force, faces charges including premeditated murder and attempted murder.
His bail application has been postponed to 14 May.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the state was prepared to proceed with the bail application, but the defence was not ready.
“As for the state, we’re ready to proceed with his bail application. However, his attorney came on record and told the court that they are not ready… as a result, the matter was postponed to the 14th of May.”