General Fannie Masemola, national police commissioner. (Photo: South African Police Service / Facebook).
General Fannie Masemola, the national police commissioner, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on four charges of breaching the Public Financial Management Act.
The charges against Masemola relate to the alleged irregular awarding of a contract worth around R228 million to Medicare 24, a company belonging to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The case was adjourned until May 13 for further investigation, as well as so that Masemola can be added to the proceedings along with 16 co-accused.
The co-accused include several senior police members and role players, including Brig. Rachel Matjeng (51) and James George Murray (46), a business partner of Matlala.
Maroela Media earlier reported that the state claims that Masemola and the co-accused conspired to award a tender, for which the treasury budgeted around R360 million, to Matlala. The contract of approximately R228 million was awarded to Medicare 24 Tshwane – a company of which Matlala is the sole director.
General Fannie Masemola, national police chief. (Photo: SA Police)
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.
Ian Cameron, DA MP and chairman of the parliamentary committee on police, says the police are already plunged into uncertainty, with the minister of police being placed on leave and an acting minister appointed.
“That uncertainty came at a price – public trust weakened and accountability disappeared.”
Cameron says Masemola should be provisionally suspended while the legal process continues. “This is not about guilt, but about protecting the office and ensuring that the police can function without disruption.”