A dozen police officers have been arrested by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Independent Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) in connection with a R360m health contract linked to crime kingpin Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s company Medicare 24, reports Daily Maverick.
The contract, awarded in 2024, has been at the centre of proceedings of the Madlanga Commission and a parliamentary inquiry into crime networks infiltrating the criminal justice system. The 12 arrests do not appear to include the top police officers named at the commission or in Parliament.
Matlala allegedly bribed top police officers, including generals, to expedite the award of the contract.
The 12 police officers appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday on corruption charged and were granted bail, said NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago. They appear to be supply chain management police who handled the tender.
The contract was for wellness screenings and medical surveillance; assessment of ill-health retirement and temporary incapacity leave; injury on duty medical assessments; and pre-employment medical screenings for the SAPS.
The Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad-hoc inquiry into allegations made by KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has heard that the company bypassed standard bidding processes, and that Matlala paid off police officers with cash and gifts to lay the ground for the contract’s award.
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