PRETORIA – Colonels, brigadiers, and major-generals are not the kind of high-ranking police officials expected to collectively be on the wrong side of the law.
Yet the dock of the Pretoria Magistrate's Court was an unusual sight on Wednesday when 12 members of the SAPS appeared in court in connection with a controversial R360-million health services tender awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District.
This is an entity registered with alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi Cat Matlala.
The 12 officers who appeared with Matlala are:
- Captain Brian Neville,
- Brigadier Rachel Matjeng,
- Brigadier Alpheus Thembinkosi Ngema,
- Brigadier Patrick Nethengwe,
- Major General Busisiwe Precious Temba,
- Brigadier Kirsty Jonker,
- Brigadier Petunia Reabetsoe Lenono,
- Brigadier Onica Ofentse Tlhoale,
- Colonel Nonjabulo Nomfundo Mngadi,
- Colonel Anton Paulsen,
- Colonel Natsenge Johannes Monyai and
- Tumisho Nehemiah Maleka (Procurement Officer)
Overall, there are 14 accused on the roll, including the 12 members of the SAPS, two entities, a director of one of the entities, James Murray as well as Matlala.
READ | Brig. Matjeng, Matlala and others in court for tender fraud
According to a statement by the NPA’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), there were allegedly several irregularities during the award of the tender and collusion by some members of the police’s Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) and Matlala.
The statement also revealed that treasury regulations were violated, where Matlala and Medicare24 were allegedly favoured by SAPS BEC members.
This, according to the NPA’s IDAC, will become apparent from the evidence later in the process.
It also said that Medicare24 did not have adequate facilities, equipment, and staff to make good on the tender, which was budgeted for.
“Matlala received a payment of just over R50million before the unlawful contract was cancelled by SAPS. Some of the accused also benefitted financially from this contract through money received from Matlala to which they were not entitled,” the statement read.
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Accused number one, alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, will remain behind bars.
The matter was postponed to 13 May 2026 for further investigations.
The state opposed Matlala's bail application.
But Matlala indicated that he was not going to apply at this stage, and his matter was postponed to 7 April 2026 to consult with his attorney.
Meanwhile, the rest of his co-accused were granted bail ranging between R40 000 and R80 000.