By Johnathan Paoli
The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to 13 accused in a high-profile corruption and fraud case linked to the controversial awarding of a SAPS tender to Medicare24 Tshwane District, while alleged underworld figure Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala remains in custody.
Appearing before the Pretoria Magistrate’s court on Wednesday, the state presented the affidavit of lead Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) investigator Sunnel Belachan.
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“The tender was awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District based on the misrepresentations which caused actual prejudice in the amount of R50,310,590.68 to the South African Police Service, the National Treasury and the public at large,” the affidavit read.
Medicare24 Managing Director James Murray, SAPS Captain Brian Cartwright, Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, and Colonel Tumisho Maleka, were each granted bail of R80,000.
The remaining accused, Major-General Busisiwe Temba, Brigadiers Alpheus Ngema, Patrick Nethengwe, Kirsty Jonker, Petunia Lenono, Onicca Tlhoaele, and Colonels Nonjabulo Mngadi, Anton Paulsen, and Natsengae Monyai were granted bail of R40,000 each.
Matlala, who is accused number 1 and central to the case, did not apply for bail as he is already in custody in connection with a separate matter.
The State confirmed it would oppose any future bail application by him.
During proceedings, the prosecutor told the court that the State would not oppose bail for the remaining accused, but stressed the seriousness of the charges and the scale of the alleged corruption.
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The court heard that the offences fall within Schedule 5, meaning the accused bore the onus of satisfying the court that their release would be in the interests of justice.
Despite many of the accused indicating they could only afford bail of around R10,000, the state argued for significantly higher amounts, noting that the value of the tender exceeded R220 million.
The state further warned that bail proceedings should not become a “horse-trading exercise”, arguing that the proposed amounts were necessary to mitigate the risk of flight and interference with witnesses.
The charges stem from the awarding of a SAPS tender on 14 June 2024 to Medicare24 Tshwane District, valued at approximately R228.6 million.
According to the state, the tender was secured through fraudulent misrepresentations and collusion between company executives and SAPS officials involved in the bid evaluation process.
The state further alleged that the company misrepresented its operational capacity, including falsely claiming to have infrastructure, personnel, and systems across all nine provinces.
Several SAPS officials, many of whom served on the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC), are accused of facilitating or failing to prevent the irregular award.
The state alleges that due diligence processes were manipulated, with officials certifying compliance despite glaring discrepancies.
“Based on the misrepresentations by the BEC, Medicare24 Tshwane District should have been disqualified,” Belachan’s affidavit read.
Brigadier Rachel Matjeng faces additional charges of corruption and money laundering, alongside Matlala and the implicated corporate entities Medicare24 Tshwane District and Luxo African Trading.
The state alleges that Matjeng received payments totalling R300,000 from Matlala.
“Accused number four accepted or agreed or offered to accept gratifications in the form of payments… totalling R300,000,” the affidavit stated.
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These payments were allegedly linked to her role in referring SAPS members for services under the contract, enabling Medicare24 to generate invoices.
The funds were allegedly laundered through multiple accounts to conceal their origin.
“[The transactions] resulted in the disguise or concealment of the nature, source, origin, movement, location or disposition of the said funds,” the state alleged.
Matjeng has previously denied wrongdoing, telling the Madlanga Commission that any money received was a “girlfriend allowance” and not linked to the tender.
The case involves a wide network of accused, including senior SAPS officials ranging in rank from major-general to captain, as well as corporate entities linked to the tender.
The court heard that two corporate accused, Medicare24 Tshwane District and Luxo Africa Brand Investments, are still in the process of being formally added to the proceedings.
The NPA’s IDAC unit confirmed that the investigation dates back to 2024 and relates to allegations of systemic corruption in SAPS procurement processes.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said that although the tender was budgeted at approximately R360 million, it was awarded at a lower bid of around R228 million, despite the company allegedly lacking the capacity to deliver.
To date, over R50 million has already been paid to Medicare24 before the contract was cancelled.
“This matter again highlights how tender processes in government, including law enforcement, are compromised through government officials who are prepared to compromise themselves and their institutions just to make money on the side or to pay back favours,” Kganyago said.
Government has welcomed the arrests, stating they send a strong message about accountability within law enforcement.
“These arrests send a clear and necessary message that no individual, including those entrusted with enforcing the law, is above scrutiny or beyond the reach of law enforcement,” acting spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa said.
As the matter proceeds, further arrests have not been ruled out, with investigators continuing to probe the role of additional officials and the Bid Adjudication Committee.
The case is expected to resume on 13 May.
