Twelve senior police officials and a company director accused of corruption linked to a R360-million tender are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The accused are alleged to have been involved in an irregular contract awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District for health risk management services. The contract, granted in June 2024, has been flagged for non-compliance, with reports indicating that the company did not hold a valid licence and failed to meet key tender requirements.
The suspects face charges of corruption, fraud and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
The Managing Director of Medicare24 Tshwane District has also been arrested and is expected to appear alongside the 12 senior South African Police Service officials in court. While not officially confirmed, there has been speculation linking the company’s leadership to alleged organised criminal activity in the matter.
Court proceedings are expected to begin shortly, with additional individuals and two companies also implicated in the case.
Those accused include SAPS Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, a senior official in SAPS Forensic Services, along with several other officials and business representatives.
The state has confirmed that the Managing Director of Medicare24 is accused number one in the matter. Prosecutors have indicated that bail is opposed for him due to the seriousness of the charges and his involvement in other pending cases, while bail is not opposed for the remaining accused.
Among the listed accused are James Murray, Brian Cartright, Rachel Matjeng, Alpheus Ngema, Nyimeleni Nethengwe, Tunisia Maleka, Busiswa Themba, Kirsty Jonker, Petunia Lenono, Ofentse Tlhaole, Nonjabulo Mngadi, Anton Paulsen and Natsengae Monyai, as well as the companies Medicare24 Tshwane District and Luxo African Brand Investments.
Court proceedings also revealed that accused number seven, Tunisia Maleka, is currently out on bail in an unrelated case.
Legal representatives for some of the accused have raised issues regarding awareness of the charges, with one defence attorney stating that their client was unaware of the full details of the case.
The matter remains before the court.