Twelve high-ranking police officers and a company director have been arrested in connection with the irregular awarding of a R360 million tender to a company linked to alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala .
The arrests were carried out on Tuesday night by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) in a series of raids . All accused are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption, fraud, and contravening the Public Finance Management Act .
The Medicare24 Tender
The contract in question was awarded in June 2024 to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a company owned by Matlala, to provide medical services for SAPS personnel . At the time of the award, the company lacked a valid operating license and had not signed a mandatory franchise agreement .
The tender was later cancelled following an internal audit that confirmed significant irregularities . Reports indicate that while the contract was advertised for R360 million, R600 million was available in the SAPS budget, and R466 million was eventually disclosed as irregular expenditure .
Alleged Corruption Scheme
The IDAC investigation has been ongoing since receiving a referral from the SAPS risk audit division in February 2025 . According to testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and a parliamentary ad hoc committee, senior police officials allegedly assisted Matlala in securing the tender in exchange for kickbacks .
Testimony has revealed that the bid evaluation and adjudication committees awarded the tender to Medicare24 despite multiple red flags, including:
The company lacked a valid operating license at the time of bidding
Key franchise agreement documents were unsigned
Allegations that Matlala exerted undue influence over procurement officials
SAPS head of procurement, Lieutenant General Molefe Fani, has previously conceded that the company was not fully compliant with tender requirements but defended the award process, stating that evaluation committees rely heavily on the Central Supplier Database, which had not flagged any restrictions against Matlala’s companies at the time .
Political Fallout
The tender has been at the centre of both the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and a parliamentary investigation into criminal networks infiltrating SAPS . During parliamentary hearings, IDAC head Advocate Andrea Johnson confirmed that “several politicians and SAPS officials” were implicated in the investigation .
EFF leader Julius Malema pressed Johnson on whether former police ministers Senzo Mchunu and Bheki Cele were among those under investigation. While Johnson declined to name individuals, she confirmed that politicians were being investigated .
Matlala’s Legal Troubles
Matlala, who remains at the centre of multiple investigations, is already facing charges of attempted murder, money laundering, and defeating the ends of justice related to the 2023 shooting of his former lover, actress Tebogo Thobejane . He was also implicated in the Thembisa Hospital corruption saga, where the Special Investigating Unit found he benefited from at least R13 million through procurement deals .
The arrested officers are expected to make their first court appearance on Wednesday, with the investigation into broader political and police involvement continuing .
