News24 | UPDATE | Nine cops suspended over ‘Cat’ Matlala’s controversial R360m police tender

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has suspended nine police officers who served on the bid evaluation committee (BEC) that assessed the tainted R360-million police tender tied to Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the officers had been suspended pending the outcome of disciplinary and related investigations.

“The SAPS remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency and ethical conduct in all its operations,” Mathe added.

The controversial R360-million Medicare 24 tender was first exposed by a months-long News24 investigation, which revealed how Matlala allegedly cultivated a network of influence reaching the highest ranks of SAPS.

Matlala landed the deal while he was central in a R2.3-billion Tembisa Hospital graft controversy and faced probes by the Special Investigating Unit and the Hawks for procurement fraud.

Insiders familiar with the investigation previously told News24 that members of the BEC allegedly made material misrepresentations and omissions during the evaluation of Medicare 24’s bid.

READ | Fannie Masemola, ‘Cat’ Matlala appear together in court over R228m Medicare 24 tender

Among the alleged irregularities was the committee’s acceptance of claims that Medicare 24 Tswane District had a computerised system compatible with SAPS personnel systems.

Investigators had since found that no such system existed, a shortcoming that should have disqualified the bid.

A preliminary internal audit report had also found that Matlala’s company should never have been awarded the tender in June 2024, that the process should be criminally probed, and that the R18.5 million already paid should be declared irregular expenditure.

At that stage, Matlala’s little-known company had been a police supplier for seven months, the opening chapters of a three-year project.

READ | IDAC labels claims that senior cops targeted as ‘irresponsible’, ‘reckless’

The contract was to supply an array of health services to the police’s 180 000 staff.

Police commissioner General Fannie Masemola only acted on recommendations to cancel the tender 103 days after receiving the audit report.

This was followed by Matlala’s arrest on charges of conspiracy, attempted murder and money laundering related to a botched hit on his former lover.

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