'Dirty dozen' cops in the dock for Cat Matlala R360m tender fraud scandal

Mar 25, 2026 · 1025 words · By Caryn Dolley

📰 Original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-03-25-dirty-dozen-cops-in-the-dock-…

Fact-Check Results

“Twelve South African Police Service (SAPS) officials allegedly paved the way for Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company to secure a lucrative tender it should never have been awarded, and now, like him, they face serious criminal charges.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to confirm or refute involvement of SAPS officials in tender facilitation.

“Late on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption announced the arrests of the 12 senior officers.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to verify arrest dates of SAPS officials.

“They face corruption and fraud charges, as well as accusations that they contravened the Public Finance Management Act.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to confirm charges against SAPS officials.

“The 12 (one who is now retired) appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, marking their official entry into democratic South Africa’s biggest law enforcement scandal involving allegations that a drug cartel known as the “Big Five” has infiltrated the country’s criminal justice system.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to verify claims about the scale of the scandal or cartel infiltration.

“Matlala, while facing attempted murder charges in another court case, has been accused of being a Big Five cartel member.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to confirm Matlala's charges or cartel membership.

“The 12 police officers who now face charges alongside him are: [list of names].”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to verify the list of arrested officials or Cartwright's inclusion.

“Also facing charges with them is Matlala’s business associate, James Murray, and two of Matlala’s companies, including Medicare 24 Tshwane District (Pty) Ltd.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to confirm charges against Murray or Matlala's companies.

“The State did not oppose bail for the 12. Murray, Cartwright, Matjeng and Maleka received bail of R80,000 while the others received bail of R40,000. Matlala remains in custody on other charges.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to verify bail amounts or legal proceedings.

“Cartwright was labelled “one of the main instigators” by the NPA, as he was allegedly a facilitator on the bid approval committee and ensured Matlala would be awarded the bid.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to confirm Cartwright's role or NPA labeling.

“The Matlala tender case revolves around a R360-million contract that the SAPS awarded to Medicare 24 in 2024.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to verify the R360-million tender award details.

“It is understood that the State’s case is that several of the arrested police officers were allegedly involved in overlooking certain matters or misrepresenting issues, to benefit Matlala and Medicare 24.”

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“Dumisani Khumalo and six colleagues were arrested for corruption charges related to an irregular appointment.”

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“It related to services involving retirement due to ill health, wellness screenings and medical assessments prior to employment.”

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“The bid evaluation committee then provided a recommendation that went to a bid adjudication committee.”

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“For example, it is alleged that in standard bid documents, Medicare 24, via Matlala, declared that it was not involved in any consultations or arrangements with any official linked to the procurement process. However, based on investigations, this appeared to be false.”

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“Audit findings stated that the facilitator in the bid evaluation committee exposed SAPS's bidding process to corruption risks.”

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“The arrests are part of a larger scandal alleging infiltration of the police by the Big Five cartel.”

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“Further police arrests are anticipated based on ongoing investigations into the scandal.”

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“The tender was later cancelled because of red flags around it.”

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“Parliament's ad hoc committee and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry are investigating cartel infiltration claims.”

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“Daily Maverick has established, based on documents that Fani submitted to the ad hoc committee, that several of the police officers arrested on Tuesday were on the bid evaluation committee in the Medicare 24 saga.”

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“Lieutenant General Molefe Fani, the SAPS’s divisional commissioner of supply chain management, testified last year before the committee, explaining how tenders were awarded.”

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“Mkhwanazi believes Dumisani Khumalo was framed to impede Crime Intelligence investigations into the Big Five cartel.”

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“This process included a bid evaluation committee having to ensure that suppliers complied with criteria, “issues of tax compliance need to be taken into [account]”, and relevant documents needed to be properly completed.”

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“Had the reality been reflected, Medicare 24’s bid submission would have been disqualified.”

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“KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged infiltration of policing, politics, and private security by a drug cartel.”

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“Cartwright and Murray face allegations of failing to disclose consultations with Matlala regarding the Medicare 24 tender.”

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“It was also alleged that when certain police officers did due diligence at Medicare 24’s premises, the company did not have a computerised system compatible with the police’s database. However, certain officers then misrepresented this, saying the opposite, that Medicare 24 had a compatible computerised system.”

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