Police national commissioner General Fannie Masemola appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Masemola is facing four charges of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) in connection with the award of a multimillion rand police health tender to Medicare24 Tshwane, a company owned by businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala in 2024. Masemola was issued with summons to appear in court last month.
Twelve other police officers, appeared on charges of fraud and corruption in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court along with Matlala last month in connection with the same contract valued at approximately R228 million. The officers were granted bail. The case is being investigated by the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
“[Masemola’s] matter was postponed to 13 May 2026 for further investigations and for him to be joined with 16 others who are charged on the same matter,” said Henry Mamothame, IDAC spokesperson.
It is understood that at his next appearance, Masemola will appear alongside the other accused in the tender matter.
Speaking to eNCA after Tuesday's short appearance, Kaizer Kganyago, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson said: “IDAC did the investigations, with the evidence that they have got, they believe that it is prudent that he comes to court. We would not have come to this point if we did not believe that we have got a watertight case.”
The health contract was related to the provision of certain medical services to police officers. During the bail application for the 12 officers, the court was told that Matlala’s company should have been disqualified from the tender based on misrepresentations that caused actual prejudice amounting to over R50 million to the SAPS, National Treasury, and the country at large.
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