The South African Police Service suspends more senior officers linked to a R360 million tender scandal awarded to controversial businessman Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala.
Image: Itumeleng English
Five more senior police officers have been suspended by the South African Police Service (SAPS), bringing the total number of suspended officials connected to the alleged fraud and irregularities surrounding a questionable R360 million police health services and wellness tender awarded to Medicare24 to 14.
This follows the SAPS's announcement last week that nine police officers had been suspended due to alleged ties to a business associated with controversial businessman Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala.
The officers are accused of unlawfully influencing the tender process and failing to verify the legitimate business operations of the company.
In a statement issued on Monday, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the SAPS will not provide further comment at this stage.
These suspensions form a broader cleanup and investigation effort that has previously led to the suspension of nine other officers and former National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, and the dismissal of national head of organised crime, Major-General Richard Shibiri.
The suspensions also include members of the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) and provincial leadership.
The affected officers have been placed on precautionary suspensions pending disciplinary processes and active criminal investigations by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
These suspensions come after testimony and investigations at the Madlanga Commission revealed deep-seated financial corruption in the awarding of a multimillion-rand contract, exposing improper relationships and alleged financial kickbacks between senior police officers and Matlala.
The suspension of five additional senior cops is in addition to the suspensions of Lieutenant-General Dr Molefe Fani (who served as the Divisional Commissioner for Supply Chain Management), acting Deputy National Commissioner for Support Services, Lieutenant-General Lineo Nkhuoa, Divisional Commissioner for Technology Management Services Lieutenant-General Nonkulululeko Edith Mavundla, and Component Head in the Divisions of Visible Policing and Operations, Major-General Thokozani Mathonsi.
Fani was suspended on two separate matters.
This was after he was implicated in allegations of procurement irregularities and corruption. These claims center on his oversight of irregular and questionable tender processes, particularly relating to COVID-19 PPE contracts during his time at the National Treasury, as well as a subsequent R350 million health services tender awarded to Medicare 24 under his leadership in SAPS.
Nkhuoa: She is allegedly accused of unlawfully signing off on the service-level agreement for the irregular tender related to Medicare24 without proper oversight or background checks.
Mavundla: As the Deputy Chairperson of the Bid Adjudication Committee, she is accused of bypassing standard procurement regulations and failing to address red flags in the awarding of the controversial contract to Medicare24, while Mathonsi among the five additional senior police officers suspended or facing immediate suspension over their alleged involvement in a controversial tender.
These internal suspensions came after 12 senior police officers earlier this year were arrested and charged with fraud, corruption and money laundering.
The arrests included Brigadier Rachel Matjeng (Section Head of Quality Management, Forensic Services), Brigadier Kirsty Jonker, Brigadier Alpheus Ngema, Brigadier Patrick Nethengwe, Brigadier Onicca Ofentse Tlhoaele, Colonel Natsengae Monyai and Colonel Nonjobulo Mngadi, all of whom have also been suspended last week.
During her appearance at the Madlanga Commission, Matjeng admitted to being in an “on-and-off” romantic relationship with Matlala.
She also revealed that Matlala, whom she knew as a businessman, regularly spoiled her with gifts and cash, confirming that he made direct deposits into her FNB account and sometimes utilised a third-party account to hide the transactions from his wife.
However, despite the relationship, she strongly denied using her position to influence the awarding of lucrative SAPS contracts, including the controversial R360m tender awarded to Matlala's company.
Security analyst Andy Mashaile said the SAPS must accelerate its internal disciplinary processes to ensure the immediate dismissal of corrupt officials, adding that state funds should not be utilised to finance their private legal defences.
“We also expect people to be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
According to political analyst Sandile Swana, the SAPS cannot terminate staff arbitrarily and must strictly adhere to labour laws, which guarantees employees a formal disciplinary hearing.
While suspensions could be utilised as needed before fair dismissals, Swana warned that the police service is highly vulnerable because critical leadership roles are either compromised by corruption or left vacant by suspended commanders.