Five more police officers arrested in connection with Saps' Medicare24 tender
via The Citizen1 min read
Five additional senior officers have been arrested in connection with the R360 million Medicare24 health tender, bringing the total number of police officers arrested in this matter since March to 26. The South African Police Service Saps confirmed the suspensions of these five officers, stating that internal departmental processes are underway and no further comment will be provided at this stage to preserve the integrity of these processes. Nine other officers, believed to be members of the tender's bid adjudication committee, were previously suspended and arrested. They were released on bail ranging from R40,000 to R80,000 and are scheduled to appear in court again on June 26. In late March, 12 police officers were arrested in raids conducted by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption. The tender involves a contract awarded to businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala for services to be rendered to Saps. Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, then Saps CFO and current acting national police commissioner, informed parliament's ad-hoc committee on police corruption that the contract was flagged in March 2024. Dimpane also stated in November that an irregular expenditure related to the tender was confirmed in May of that year, and payments were halted under her instruction. Matlala appeared before the ad hoc committee in November, explaining his association with Medicare24 and his meeting with the company's owner, Mike van Wyk.
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