Senior SAPS Officers Appear in Court Over R360 Million Tender Scandal
One of the 12 South African Police Service (SAPS) officers who appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court is Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, who previously told the Madlanga Commission that she had a romantic relationship with controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The officers were arrested during a raid conducted by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) on Tuesday evening. They are accused of assisting Matlala in securing an irregular R360 million SAPS health tender awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a company linked to him.
They now face multiple charges, including fraud, money laundering, tender manipulation and violations of the Public Finance Management Act.
During her earlier testimony before the commission in February, Matjeng denied that any money she received from Matlala was linked to corruption. She maintained that their relationship was personal and that the funds and gifts she received were not bribes.
She told the commission that Matlala had given her various expensive gifts, including the weight loss medication Ozempic, which costs around R4,500 per unit. Addressing a payment of R300,000 she received from him, Matjeng insisted that it was unrelated to her official duties.
Matjeng is among several high ranking officers implicated in the case, including General Busi Temba, Brigadier Ofentse Tlhoaele, Brigadier Kistey Jonker, Brigadier Thembinkosi Ngema, Colonel Nehemiah Maleka, Colonel Johannes Monyai, Captain Brian Catwright and retired Colonel Anthony Paulsen.
The case forms part of broader investigations into alleged corruption and tender irregularities within SAPS, as authorities continue to probe links between law enforcement officials and suspected criminal networks.