SERIAL-ACCUSED “CAT” MATLALA DENIED BAIL, YET CO-ACCUSED GRANTED BAIL

Serial-accused Vusi “Cat” Matlala was denied bail at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

This after he appeared in the court on Wednesday together with his co-accused on charges of corruption, fraud and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

The Prosecutors indicated in court that they would opposed Matla’s bail application as he was still in custody regarding another criminal matter and Matlala himself did not apply for bail at this stage.

All Matlala’s co-accused were granted bail ranging from R40 000 to R80 000 with strict conditions attached.

Matlala’s co-accused are service provider James Murray and police officers Captain Brian Neville, Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, Brigadier Alpheus Thembinkosi Ngema, Brigadier Patrick Nthengwe, Tumisho Nehemia Maleka(SAPS procurement officer), Major General Busisiwe Precious Temba, Brigadier Kirsty Jonker, Brigadier Pertunia Reabetsoe Lenono, Brigadier Onica Ofentse Tlhoale, Colonel Nonjabulo Nomfundo Mngadi, Colonel Anton Paulsen, and Colonel Natsenge Johanesd Monyai.

The group faces allegations of fraudulently awarding a R360 million police tender to Mamelodi tenderpreneur and serial-accused Vusi “Cat” Matlala’s company known as Medicare 24 Tshwane District.

The tender was cancelled after it emerged that there were several irregularities and collusion during the bidding process on the part of the members of the SAPS Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) members and ” Cat” Matlala.

The Bid Evaluation Committee members are the ones who are currently charged with Matlala for tender-rigging.

According to the Police and Prosecutors, the Treasury’s tender regulations were violated and Matlala and his company Medicare 24 were favoured by the now-accused members of the Bid Evaluation Committee.

It has emerged that Matlala’s Medicare 24 company did not have the facilities/ equipment and/ or staff to make good on the tender, which was budgeted at R360 million.

Matlala received an amount of R50 million before the tender contract was cancelled by SAPS.

It has been discovered that some of the accused benefitted financially for awarding the tender to Matlala, which by law they were not entitled to.

All the accused together with Matlala will be back in court on 13 May this year but Matlala will be in court again on 7 April for “consultation”.

According to National Prosecuting Authoritity ( NPA) Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, the matter of Matlala and his co-accused was referred to IDAC in 2024 and the arrests show that the NPA is still able to deal with corruption effectively.

It has also emerged that national police commissioner Fannie Masemola has been summoned to appear in court in connection with this very case involving Matlala and top SAPS officials regarding the R360 million tender.

He is due in court on 21 April 2026.