Johnathan Paoli
The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has rejected allegations that it is targeting senior members of SAPS as “false”, “irresponsible”, and potentially harmful to the fight against corruption.
In a statement on Saturday, IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the directorate condemned the false allegations circulated on social media platforms, insinuating that IDAC is deliberately targeting SAPS senior officials.
The allegations have been made following the arrest of senior police officers and the serving of a summons on National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
“The IDAC, like many other law enforcement agencies, is not a law unto itself as has been portrayed by the false narratives circulated. Society should therefore be vigilant not to fall prey to false narratives created to destabilise the fight against corruption…the IDAC cannot afford to allow itself to be deterred from discharging its constitutional mandate to the best of its abilities, within the prescribes of the law,” Mamothame said.
The arrests relate to an alleged irregular contract awarded by SAPS to Medicare 24 Tshwane District in 2024, a company the NPA has identified as being linked to tenderpreneur and alleged underworld figure, Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, who is among the accused in the matter.
Mamothame said that the investigation was not politically or institutionally motivated, but rather stemmed from a formal referral within SAPS itself.
“The NPA has from the onset indicated that this matter was referred to the IDAC in 2024, wherein investigations were conducted. It is also imperative to note that this matter was referred to IDAC by the SAPS Risk Audit Unit for investigation, after suspicions of irregularities were discovered,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions that the arrests were influenced by testimony before the Madlanga Commission or Parliament’s ad hoc committee, both of which are probing claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, warning that such narratives risk undermining cooperation within law enforcement at a critical time.
Mamothame said IDAC operates within strict legal oversight and is not above the law, and cautioned that misinformation could endanger officials working on sensitive corruption cases.
“The attacks and baseless speculations also have the potential to place the lives of the officials working in these complex cases and the Investigating Director and their families at risk,” Mamothame said.
He said IDAC prescribes to the principle of investigating and prosecuting without fear, favour or prejudice and that every action that has been taken followed due process.
“The arrests are based on the evidence at hand.”
He added that calls from some quarters for additional individuals to be charged were misplaced, saying that only as and when matters are referred to IDAC, will they be acted upon without fear, favour or prejudice.
The controversy follows the appearance of Matlala and other accused, including 12 SAPS officers ranging in rank from major-general to captain, in connection with a controversial SAPS tender awarded to Medicare 24 Tshwane District in 2024.
The accused include Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, who testified at the Madlanga Commission that she was in a romantic relationship with Matlala and that amounts of R300,000 received from Matlala were gifts.
The accused face charges of corruption, fraud and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, linked to alleged collusion in the SAPS tender adjudication process.
The company, despite allegedly lacking the necessary capacity, was awarded a contract valued at approximately R228-million out of a broader budget of about R360-million, and reportedly received more than R50-million before it was cancelled.
Several of the accused were granted bail of between R40,000 and R80,000, with the case postponed to 13 May, while Matlala remains in custody.
Masemola was served a summons on Wednesday in relation to his role as accounting officer of SAPS under section 38 of the Public Finance Management Act in the awarding of the tender to Matlala.
According to section 38 of the PFMA, an accounting officer must maintain robust internal controls, transparent reporting, and prudent financial management.
Non-compliance can result in administrative or legal consequences, including accountability for irregular or wasteful expenditure.
He is expected in court on 21 April.
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