Businessman and tender entrepreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala’s plea agreement could significantly influence the corruption case arising from the R360-million SAPS Medicare 24 Tshwane District health tender.
The State disclosed this during the appearance of suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola and several senior police officials in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The case involving Masemola, Matlala and other senior police officials was postponed to 28 August to allow investigators to complete outstanding work and for the State to amend the charge sheet following Matlala’s plea agreement.
Masemola is facing charges relating to alleged contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) stemming from the awarding of the tender in 2024.
State prosecutor Santosh Manilall told the court that Matlala’s plea agreement had produced evidence that could alter the direction of the case, including the possibility of additional charges being brought or more accused being added.
“The amending of the charge sheet has not been concluded,” Manilall said.
He further informed the court that Matlala, Colonel Nehemiah Maleka and Colonel Johannes Monyai had their matters separated after entering into plea agreements with the State.
“Accused numbers 1, 8 and 9 (Matlala, Maleka and Monyai respectively) are appearing in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court. A plea agreement has been tendered and judgment will be delivered on 1 July,” he said.
Manilall said that, should the plea agreement be accepted, further amendments to the case could follow.
“That would result in the charge sheet changing again, and it cannot be finalised until then,” he said.
The State is expected to provide the contents of the docket to the accused’s legal teams by the end of July.
The media previously reported that investigators and prosecutors were assessing Matlala’s disclosures to determine whether they pointed to a broader network of alleged corruption involving senior officials.
The information is also being scrutinised against existing evidence in the investigation, including the role played by officials in the tender process and oversight structures.
Matlala pleaded guilty this week to seven counts of corruption, fraud and money laundering linked to the SAPS health services tender.
In terms of a Section 105A plea agreement under the Criminal Procedure Act, Matlala accepted a 15-year prison sentence, with seven years suspended. Unlike a Section 204 agreement, he was not granted immunity from prosecution.
Instead, his sentence is dependent on him providing “full and frank” testimony in future criminal proceedings.
During the sentencing proceedings, the State said Matlala had supplied information about alleged corruption involving senior police officials and other influential individuals.
“The State would have had difficulty in uncovering their involvement and the extent of the corruption within the SAPS without [Matlala’s] disclosure,” the agreement stated.
The State acknowledged that the sentence could attract criticism but argued that this was outweighed by the need to act against senior officials allegedly implicated in corruption.
The case stems from the awarding of a three-year SAPS health tender to Medicare 24 Tshwane District in June 2024.
Although the tender was budgeted at R360 million, Matlala’s bid amounted to about R228 million.
After concerns were raised about the procurement process, an internal probity audit was launched.
An interim report submitted to Masemola on 30 January reportedly found that Medicare 24 Tshwane District should never have been awarded the tender and recommended that the matter be referred for criminal investigation.
The tender was cancelled in May 2025, 103 days after the interim findings were sent to Masemola.
By then, Matlala’s company had allegedly received about R50 million.
Also appearing in the matter are Medicare 24 group managing director James Murray and police officers Major-General Busi Temba, Brigadier Rachelle Matjeng, Brigadier Ofentse Tlhoaele, Brigadier Kistey Jonker, Brigadier Thembinkosi Ngema, Captain Brian Cartwright, Colonel Anthony Paulsen, Brigadier Petunia Lenono, Colonel Nonjabulo Mngadi and Brigadier Patrick Nethengwe.
