PRETORIA – Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is back in court, alongside 14 other accused, as the multi-million-rand Medicare24 Tshwane District case returns to court.
The case centres on allegations of corruption linked to a South African Police Service (SAPS) health-services contract worth up to R228 million.
Matlala’s case was separated after he entered into a plea agreement with the State.
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But the agreement ultimately collapsed. At the centre of the breakdown was the proposed sentence.
Matlala rejected a 12-year term of direct imprisonment, while he had indicated that he was prepared to accept an eight-year sentence.
On Tuesday, the charges against suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola were withdrawn following a review of the evidence in the case. Masemola was charged alongside Matlala and the other accused linked to the Medicare24 healthcare tender.