National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has been summoned to appear in court on 21 April.
The police confirmed on Wednesdays that he had been served. The summons is linked to the Medicare24 police tender that was awarded in June 2024.
The R360-million contract, awarded to Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala's Mediccare24 Tshwane District, was awarded for health risk management. The company lacked a valid license and full compliance with tender requirements.
According to the police, more senior officials are likely to be arrested in the coming days. The summons comes after 12 police and a company director appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate Court on Wednesday.
Two of the 'people' who also appeared in court were Matlala's companies, Medicare24 Tshwane District and Luxo Africa Brand Investments.
Matlala was accused number one of the people who appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
While bail was on the table for the rest of officials who appeared, the State opposed bail for Matlala who is still in custody for attempted murder charges for three hits.
READ: Brig. Matjeng, Matlala and others in court for tender fraud
Brigadier Rachel Matjeng was also of the people arrested.
At the Madlanga Commission, Matjeng was said to have overseen Medicare24's tender process. At the Commission, it came to light that a number of irregularities were found in the application, the bidder was not compliant. As such, the tender was terminated.
Matjeng alleged at the Commission that Matlala was her on-and-off lover. She alleged that their relationship started in 2017.
READ: 'No one is above law' - Govt on arrest of 12 cops in alleged tender corruption case
She described Matlala as ‘romantic’ and while they were in a relationship, in her knowledge, Matlala was never arrested or convicted of any criminal offences.
Matjeng revealed that Matlala would often shower her with gifts and money. When probed, she denied helping Matlala secure the controversial R360-million SAPS tender contract.
She told the Commission that she had requested two people to vet Matlala for her. Mantjeng conceded that when the allegations against Matlala surfaced and up to the date of his arrest, she did become aware of his alleged crimes.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has expressed outrage over the fatal shooting of a 35-year-old woman in the Johannesburg CBD.
The victim, who has been identified as a legal practitioner, was shot and killed on Monday at the corner of Fox and Joubert Street.
According to a statement from the minister's office, reports indicate the deceased was attached to Sibanye-Stillwater’s legal team and was reportedly involved in a labour dispute on behalf of the company at the time of her death.
READ: Justice minister condemns killing of lawyer in Joburg CBD
Police claim preliminary reports indicate that the woman was allegedly followed by two unknown suspects who opened fire on her before fleeing the scene on foot.
Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said no arrests have been made at this stage and investigations into the circumstances of the shooting continue.
READ: 'I got to kiss her goodbye' : Husband recalls final moments before attorney was killed
Kubayi condemned the incident, stressing that violence can never be used to resolve disputes.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources says South Africa has enough enough fuel. Therefore, there is no need to panic.
Director-General Jacob Mbele said that companies operating in the country order their fuel in advance. This will secure South Africa for a few more months.
In addition, South Africa gets its fuel from a variety of sources and countries including Nigeria and Oman.
Both countries are not affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
READ: Mozambique might reach 'gas cliff', Sasol has a solution
Sasol has assured the country that they are working on a plan as of its plants in Mozambique are reportedly facing a 'gas cliff' by 2028.
CEO Simon Baloyi says they have found a way to extend the gas cliff to 2030 instead. The solution, according to Baloyi, is Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Sasol, along with Eskom, under the guidance of the Electricity Department.
Secunda is crucial for the country's energy security. Especially because, from there they can make petrol and diesel from coal. Other chemicals produced from the coal includes ammonia for fertilisers, agriculture and mining explosives and jet fuel.
This is a temporary welcomed relief as South Africa were growing concerned with potential fuel shortages in the wake of the war in the Middle East.
READ: No shortage: SA has enough fuel, says industry
The latest projections from data supplied by the central energy fund suggest petrol will rise by between R5.17 and R5.72 per litre, depending on the grade.
That means an extra R300 for a 60-litre fuel tank. The under recovery based on current oil prices and the Rand exchange rate is even higher for diesel, suggesting hikes of above R9.50.
Diesel is not regulated in South Africa and some outlets have already hiked their prices.
Police are now probing an arson case following the Botha Sigcau Building fire.
Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Bantu Holomisa says the Botha Sigcau building fire points to neglect of state facilities.
Flames swept through the building, which is the Mthatha home of several government departments on Wednesday.
READ: UPDATE: Authorities investigating cause of Botha Sigcau building fire
Government staff who survived the fire say years of neglect made it a disaster waiting to happen.
Authorities are expected to assess the extent of damage for the remainder of the week.
READ: Holomisa blames poor maintenance for Botha Sigcau building fire
Eastern Cape MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure and Human Settlements, Siphokazi Lusithi, said part of the work that was done by the technical team was to assess where the fire emanated from.
She said it was found that the building had storage rooms where important documents and equipment were kept, most of which were on the basement and the first floor of the building.
READ: Botha Sigcau fire| Confidential records may be safe, but investigations will tell
These lower floors, she says, did not appear to have been affected by the fire.
However, she stressed that only after assessments have been concluded would they be certain on the status of the records.
SANRAL has announced the temporary closure of the N3/N12 northbound slow lanes.
This follows the discovery of ground instability in the surrounding area, which is affecting the carriageway.
The instability has led to subsidence, causing sections of the road to gradually sink.
SANRAL Gauteng head Progress Hlahla says such undermining is often associated with illegal mining activity.
READ: SANRAL closes N3/N12 slow lanes over ground instability
"Following the identification of the subsidence, temporary traffic accommodation measures have been implemented on site," Hlahla says.
Traffic will be diverted away from the affected slow lane while the area remains closed.
Hlahla adds that SANRAL is working with the Council for Geoscience to monitor high-risk areas.
In the courts, The alleged triggerman in the murder of Marius van der Merwe has denied any involvement in the case.
Matipandile Sotheni, a former Special Task Force officer, appeared in the Brakpan magistrate's court on Tuesday as he faces multiple charges, including premeditated murder.
READ: UPDATE: Alleged triggerman in Witness D murder denies involvement
Addressing the court after his case was postponed to 14 May for a formal bail application, the ex-cop said he was innocent.
Van der Merwe was shot dead in front of his family outside their Brakpan home.
Tiffany Meek has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 11-year-old son, Jayden-Lee.
She briefly appeared in the High Court sitting in Palm Ridge on Wednesday.
READ: UPDATE: Tiffany Meek pleads not guilty to murdering son
The boy’s body was found near his home at a complex in Fleurhof last year, a day after he had been reported missing.
The case has been postponed to 22 April and she remains in custody.
The bodies of all five trapped eKapa miners have been recovered. The families now await DNA tests.
The miners were trapped after a mudslide in February and investigations are now underway to its cause.
The mine is also applying for liquidation, which will leave over a thousand workers jobless.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is pushing for the arrest of the eKapa Mine CEO.
It states that the CEO must also be held criminally liable for failing to pay more than 1,200 workers.