South Africa's police chief charged in connection with controversial health contract
via The Namibian3 min read
General Fannie Masemola, South Africa's police chief, has been formally charged with failing in his duties to provide proper oversight regarding a controversial $21 million health contract. The contract, awarded to Vusimuzi Matlala's company Medicare24 Tshwane District in 2024 to provide health services to the police, was canceled a year later in May 2025. Masemola faces four counts of breaching Section 38 of South Africa's Public Finance Management Act, which outlines the responsibilities of accounting officers. He denied the charges after his appearance at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court, stating, "I know that I'm not guilty, I'm not wrong, but the law must take its course." Unlike a dozen other senior police officers and Matlala, who have been charged with corruption in connection with the same contract, Masemola has not been accused of corruption. His case has been postponed until May 13, when he will join the 16 others involved in the case. The allegations emerged during the Madlanga Commission, an inquiry established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate corruption within the police force. This commission was prompted by claims from Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that organized crime had infiltrated high levels of the administration. Masemola is the third police chief to face a criminal investigation while in office. His appointment in 2022 had brought "new hope" for some observers, as he was seen as not being part of a corrupt value chain within police structures. Pre
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Kristine Siseho, a nurse at the Namibia University of Science and Technology Nust campus clinic, is set to graduate with a PhD in health sciences. Her research focused on developing an early detection model for anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among students. Siseho, who has nearly two decades of clinical experience and over 10 years at Nust, was motivated by the growing mental health challenges she observed in students, including suicidal thoughts, trauma, and academic failure. She noted that a lack of awareness about available mental health services further exacerbates the situation. Siseho expressed her hope that her model will transition from research into a practical tool to support students. Her journey also highlights Nust’s commitment to continuous learning and staff development.
Namibian long jump champion Chenoult Lionel Coetzee secured victory at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, achieving a jump of 7.89m. This performance places him in strong form ahead of the upcoming national championships. Ethiopia's Buli Melaku finished second with 7.75m, while Morocco's Marouane Kacimi took third with 7.66m. Coetzee, an Africa Championship silver medalist, holds a national record of 8.27m and aims for the Commonwealth Games, having already met the qualification standard for the African Championships. He expressed his goal to win a gold medal at the African Championships this year. The Addis Ababa Grand Prix, the first international athletics competition of its kind in Ethiopia, has been awarded bronze status by World Athletics and is seen as a step towards boosting Ethiopia's sport tourism and international reputation.
Drikus Coetzee made history by winning the inaugural Race Across South Africa, completing the 1,969km race in seven days, 12 hours, 2 minutes, and 47 seconds. This victory adds to Coetzee's achievements, which include two wins and a record time in the Big Munga over 1,000km. The Race Across South Africa started in Byrne, Kwazulu Natal, and traversed through KZN, the Eastern Cape, and the Klein Karoo, concluding in Wellington in the Western Cape. The route featured mostly gravel roads, farm tracks, and mountain passes, with 25,000m of vertical climbs. Participants faced challenging conditions, including rain, mud, and strong headwinds. Coetzee described the race as brutal, noting that five out of the seven days experienced rain, making the roads muddy and wet. He adopted a new strategy for this race, prioritizing more sleep—six to seven hours per night—to manage his body and maintain pace. Coetzee expressed pride in his accomplishment, stating that he was glad to make his nation proud and thanked his supporters. He plans to compete again this weekend in the Windhoek Pedal Power time trial.
Must ReadThe Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the National Prosecuting Authority NPA are addressing remarks made by EFF leader Julius Malema following his sentencing in the KuGompo firearm case. Malema's comments, directed at magistrate Twanet Olivier and state advocate Joel Cesar, have prompted concerns about the safety and dignity of judicial officers. The Department of Justice plans to introduce conditions for broadcasting court proceedings, including prohibiting the display of faces of judges, magistrates, and prosecutors. This initiative comes after Malema publicly criticized Olivier, calling her "incompetent" and "a racist," and accused Cesar of arrogance and undermining court processes. The NPA has condemned these statements, which were broadcast live on the EFF's X page, as serious threats and emphasized the need to protect prosecutors, especially given recent killings of prosecutors in the Eastern Cape. Both the department and the NPA have agreed to investigate Malema's comments to determine appropriate action. Malema was released on warning and has been granted leave to appeal his sentence, and he intends to appeal his conviction as well.