Pretoria – Crime-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and 12 senior police officers have appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption linked to the irregular awarding of a R360-million health services tender.
Matlala, who is remanded in custody on another matter involving attempted murder, allegedly irregularly secured the multi-million-rand tender through his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, in 2004.
The tender was cancelled in June last year after an internal audit flagged serious irregularities in the bidding process.
By then, Matlala had been paid millions of rand by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Several irregularities were uncovered regarding the award of the tender and alleged collusion by Matlala and some members of the SAPS Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC).
Treasury regulations were violated, and Matlala and Medicare24 were allegedly favoured by SAPS BEC members.
Medicare24 did not have the facilities/equipment and/or staff to make good on the tender, which was budgeted for approximately R360 million, but owing to the collusion between the SAPS officials and Medicare 24, the lowest bid, which was approximately R228 million, which came from Matlala, was awarded this contract, nonetheless.
Matlala received a payment of just over R50 million before the unlawful contract was cancelled by SAPS.
Some of the accused allegedly benefitted financially from this contract through money received from Matlala to which they were not entitled.
Among the accused in court on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, was Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, who, during her testimony before the Madlanga Commission, shockingly confessed to an on-off romantic relationship with Matlala.
She made the confession when pressed to explain why she received cash and gifts from Matlala.
The other accused, including high-ranking officials from the SAPS supply chain management, who were arrested in dramatic overnight raids by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, were named as:
- Captain Brian Neville,
- Brigadier Alpheus Thembinkosi Ngema,
- Brigadier Patrick Nethengwe,
- Tumisho Nehemiah Maleka (Procurement Officer),
- Major General Busisiwe Precious Temba,
- Brigadier Kirsty Jonker,
- Brigadier Petunia Reabetsoe Lenono,
- Brigadier Onica Ofentse Tlhoale,
- Colonel Nonjabulo Nomfundo Mngadi,
- Colonel Anton Paulsen, and
- Colonel Natsenge Johannes Monyai
- James Murray (service provider)
All the accused face charges relating to the irregular awarding of the tender to Medicare24 Tshwane District, which include corruption, fraud, money laundering, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
While the state indicated that it would oppose bail for Matlala.
He, however, indicated that he was not going to apply for bail at this stage.
Matlala was remanded in custody, and his matter was adjourned to 7 April 2026 to allow the accused an opportunity to consult with his attorney.
All the other co-accused were granted bail ranging between R40 000 and R80 000, with stringent conditions.
Their matter was adjourned to 13 May 2026.
Meanwhile, NPA Spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole revealed that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, has declined representations submitted by Zandile Nthabiseng Nzama, one of the co-accused in the matter involving Matlala and others.
Nzama appeared before the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg, where her defence counsel indicated their intention to escalate the representations to the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
The court concluded the pre-trial proceedings and postponed the matter to 07 April 2026 for a possible defence application to compel the State to provide further particulars.
The State has indicated that it is ready to proceed to trial.
Nzama, together with her four co-accused, faces 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, stemming from three separate shooting incidents allegedly committed between August 2022 and January 2024.
The State further alleges that the accused orchestrated one of the shootings, laundered money linked to the alleged scheme, and used a fraudulent invoice to conceal the origin of the funds and mislead the court.
Mohlatlole said the NPA remains committed to ensuring that those accused of violent crime and complex criminal schemes are held accountable through the criminal justice system.
