Even the National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, has criticized the release of a tender of millions of dollars that was given to the company of a businessman who is facing a series of crimes, Mr. Vusumuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.
Masemola was given a summons summoning him to court to answer for Matlala’s company’s awarding of R360 million tender. This news was confirmed by the spokesperson of the National Prosecution Service, NPA, Mr. Kaizer Kganyago, who said Masemola will appear in court on April 21.
“He was given a summons today to appear in court. That’s all I can say at the moment because I can’t say what charges he is facing.”
The police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said Masemola will cooperate with those investigating the case.
“He hopes that the investigation will reveal the truth.”
Brigadier Mathe said that there is an ongoing investigation within the police, which was started after the request of the suspended minister, Mr. Senzo Mchunu. Brigadier Mathe said that some have been suspended from work because of this tender which was eventually terminated.
It turns out that Masemola is charged with violating the law governing the management of public money.
The tender received by Matlala’s company is the subject of controversy before the commission led by Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga and the Parliamentary committee investigating the allegations made by the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
On Tuesday, 16 people were arrested who were suspected of being involved in the awarding of this tender. 12 of them are police officers, they were arrested with Matlala.
The suspects appeared briefly at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday when they were released on bail. Matlala did not apply for bail because he was arrested for other crimes.
Meanwhile, the person charged with murdering a witness who testified before Madlanga’s commission, Mr. Matipandile Sotheni, appeared briefly at the Magistrate’s Court in Brakpan where he is facing the charge of murdering Mr. Marius Van Der Merwe. Sotheni asked to speak for himself in court, stating that he did not know his lawyer.
“This is the first time I’ve even seen this person and he never spoke to me.”
Sotheni said that he is being arrested for an unknown crime, his case has been postponed to May 14.