By Johnathan Paoli
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has suspended five more senior officers linked to the Medicare24 tender investigation, widening the internal fallout from a R228 million police health services contract that the state alleges was irregularly awarded.
The latest suspensions bring to 14 the number of SAPS officers suspended in internal processes connected to the tender, after nine officers who served on the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) were suspended last week.
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SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the latest suspensions late on Monday.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirms the suspension of five additional senior officers in relation to matters arising from the Medicare24 tender. Internal departmental processes are currently underway, and in the interest of preserving the integrity of these processes, the SAPS will not provide further comment at this stage,” Mathe said.
The suspensions form part of a widening corruption investigation into the awarding of a contract to Medicare24, a company owned by tenderpreneur and alleged underworld figure Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
The tender, initially budgeted at about R360 million and ultimately awarded for about R228 million, was intended to provide medical screenings, wellness checks, illness assessments, pre-employment medical examinations, and injury-on-duty assessments for SAPS members over a three-year period.
Medicare24 was allegedly paid just over R50 million before SAPS cancelled the contract.
The latest development follows a series of arrests linked to the procurement process.
In March, the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption arrested Matlala, 12 senior SAPS officers, and a company director. They were later charged alongside two companies in connection with the tender.
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The accused subsequently appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges including fraud, corruption, money laundering, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
According to court documents, investigators allege the tender process was flawed from the outset.
The state contends that SAPS advertised the tender on 31 January 2024, with a closing date of 19 February, which fell short of the minimum 21-day advertising period required under National Treasury rules.
It further alleges that the tender was not urgent and that no approval was obtained to shorten the prescribed advertising period.
Although 22 companies submitted bids, Medicare24 failed to meet the requirements of an acceptable tender but was nevertheless awarded the contract.
The state alleges that police officials colluded with Matlala and Medicare24 during the procurement process, resulting in the company securing the contract.
SAPS has not disclosed the identities of the five newly suspended officers or the specific allegations against them.
