Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala (Photo: Isabel Venter/Maroela Media).
Another five senior police officers have been suspended in connection with the R228 million tender to Medicare 24, a company belonging to the controversial tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
Brig. Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, said in a statement on Monday evening that internal departmental processes are currently underway. “In the interest of maintaining the integrity of these processes, the police will not comment further at this stage.”
This comes after Mathe announced on Friday that nine officers had been suspended due to the Medicare 24 tender process. They served as members of the bid evaluation committee.
“The members concerned have been suspended pending the finalization of disciplinary and related investigations. The police remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency and ethical behavior in all its operations,” said Mathe.
General Fannie Masemola, the suspended national police commissioner, moved into the dock of the Pretoria regional court last month together with Matlala and 16 other police officers.
Masemola and Matlala stand trial together with the police officers on four charges related to the alleged irregular awarding of the Medicare 24 tender.
Masemola is facing four charges of breaching the Public Financial Management Act. Matlala and the other co-accused are facing several serious charges, including corruption, fraud and money laundering.
The case was adjourned until June 26 for further investigation.
Maroela Media earlier reported that the state claims that Masemola and the co-accused conspired to award the tender to Matlala.
Among other things, the tender provided for wellness screening tests, assessments for medical retirement and temporary disability leave.
According to the indictment, standard procurement processes were allegedly bypassed, and the police made a total of 199 payments of more than R50 million to Medicare 24 Tshwane.
In January this year, Dean Macpherson, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, terminated the lease with Medicare 24 Tshwane with immediate effect after serious allegations about its allocation emerged.