Seven Cops Cleared in R228m Medicare24 Tender

JOHANNESBURG – Seven South African Police Service (SAPS) officers who were suspended over their alleged involvement in the controversial R228 million Medicare24 tender have been cleared of misconduct charges and have returned to work. 12 SAPS Officials Arrested in R360 Million Tender Scandal

The officers served on the Tshwane District Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC), which was involved in the procurement process that ultimately awarded the health and wellness contract to Medicare24, a company linked to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Seven police officers cleared over Medicare24 tender

The officers faced an internal SAPS disciplinary process after being accused of helping Medicare24 secure the lucrative contract.

However, the disciplinary process found the seven officers not guilty of misconduct, allowing them to return to their positions.

The outcome is separate from the criminal proceedings involving other SAPS officials and individuals accused of corruption, fraud and money laundering in connection with the tender.

One officer sanctioned over niece’s employment

Although the seven officers were cleared of the main misconduct allegations, one officer who served as a contract manager was found to have a conflict-of-interest concern.

The officer’s niece had been employed by Medicare24.

As a result, the officer was docked one month’s salary.

The sanction demonstrates that while the disciplinary process did not establish misconduct relating to the awarding of the tender, SAPS still identified an issue involving a family connection to the successful bidder.

R228 million tender under criminal investigation

The Medicare24 contract remains at the centre of a much broader criminal investigation.

The tender was initially budgeted at approximately R360 million before being awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District for about R228 million.

The contract was awarded in June 2024 and was later cancelled in May 2025 after an internal investigation identified procurement irregularities. By the time it was cancelled, Medicare24 had reportedly received approximately R50 million.

Matlala’s case takes a dramatic turn

Businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was previously at the centre of the prosecution’s case.

In June, Matlala pleaded guilty to fraud, corruption and money-laundering charges connected to the tender and entered into a proposed plea and sentencing agreement with the State.

The proposed agreement would have seen him serve an effective eight-year prison sentence in exchange for cooperating with investigators and providing evidence against other accused persons.

However, that agreement subsequently collapsed.

In July, Matlala withdrew from the agreement after rejecting the sentence proposed by the court. The plea agreement was declared null and void, and the matter was postponed for trial.

Criminal case continues despite disciplinary outcome

The fact that seven officers have been cleared internally does not automatically resolve the wider criminal investigation.

The State has previously charged senior SAPS officials in connection with the Medicare24 tender, with allegations including corruption, fraud and money laundering.

The criminal case is being handled separately from SAPS’s internal disciplinary proceedings.

This distinction is important because an internal disciplinary finding and a criminal court case operate under different legal processes and standards.

Nine officers were initially suspended

The latest disciplinary outcome follows the suspension of nine police officers linked to the tender process.

The officers served on the bid evaluation committee and were investigated over allegations that they unlawfully helped Medicare24 secure the contract.

The latest outcome therefore provides clarity on the disciplinary position of seven of those officers, while the broader investigation continues to attract scrutiny.

SAPS procurement under scrutiny

The Medicare24 controversy has placed SAPS procurement procedures under intense scrutiny.

According to the State’s allegations, the tender was advertised on 31 January 2024 with a closing date of 19 February, allegedly shorter than the minimum advertising period required by National Treasury regulations.

Investigators have also alleged that Medicare24 did not meet certain requirements for an acceptable bid but was nevertheless awarded the contract.

These allegations remain subject to the criminal court process.

Another senior SAPS official cleared

The development follows a similar disciplinary outcome involving Molefe Fani, SAPS’s head of Supply Chain Management.

Fani was also reportedly found not guilty in an internal SAPS disciplinary process linked to the tender. However, he was subsequently served with another notice of intention to suspend him over unrelated allegations.

The outcomes highlight the complexity of the various investigations surrounding the contract.

What happens to the Medicare24 case?

The criminal proceedings involving the remaining accused are continuing.

Matlala’s withdrawal from the plea agreement means the State must now proceed with the criminal case without relying on the abandoned agreement as the basis for his cooperation.

The matter involving the accused is expected to return to court on 11 September 2026.

Why the case matters

The Medicare24 controversy is significant because it involves one of the country’s major law-enforcement institutions and a contract worth hundreds of millions of rand.

The case raises broader questions about:

• SAPS procurement controls
• Bid evaluation processes
• Conflicts of interest
• Internal disciplinary systems
• Public-sector corruption
• Oversight of government contracts

The outcome of the criminal proceedings could have wider implications for how procurement irregularities within SAPS are investigated and prosecuted.

The bottom line

The Medicare24 tender police officers disciplinary saga has taken another turn after seven suspended SAPS officers were cleared of misconduct charges and returned to work.

One officer, however, received a one-month salary deduction after it was found that his niece had been employed by Medicare24.

The internal findings do not bring the wider R228 million Medicare24 tender controversy to an end. Criminal proceedings involving senior police officials and other accused persons are continuing.

With Matlala’s plea agreement having collapsed and the criminal case heading towards trial, the evidence surrounding the awarding and administration of the tender will remain under intense scrutiny.