Key Takeaways
- A 370‑page forensic report commissioned by the SAPS internal audit unit recommends criminal prosecution of former Police Minister Bheki Cele for allegedly receiving unlawful gratification from Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
- Investigators identified a clear pattern of large cash withdrawals from Matlala’s companies (Medicare24 Tshwane District and CAT Protection) occurring shortly after his meetings with Cele.
- Matlala leased a luxury penthouse at The Capital Menlyn Maine and arranged for Cele to use it free of charge, a benefit Cele failed to disclose, violating National Instruction 18 of 2019 on private benefits for police officials.
- Cele’s term as police minister ended in June 2024, the same month Medicare24 secured a R360 million, three‑year SAPS health‑risk‑management contract; the alleged gratification occurred between January and March 2025.
- Matlala testified that he gave Cele cash sums of R300 000 and R200 000 (and intended a further R300 000) to secure political support against efforts to cancel the contract.
- The contract suffered severe non‑performance: Project 5500’s rollout was delayed due to missing and forged certificates of fitness, and SAPS paid Medicare24 R50 million despite little work delivered.
- The forensic audit also uncovered procurement manipulation, including leaked tender documents by bid‑evaluation facilitator Capt Brian Cartwright, false lease agreements, and forged business addresses used to fabricate a national footprint.
- Besides Cele, the report recommends prosecution of Matlala, Cartwright, Brig Petunia Lenono (illegally employed by Medicare24), and Lt‑Gen Molefe Fani; most have already been charged, while a court application seeks to overturn the National Director of Public Prosecutions’ decision to clear Gen Fannie Masemola.
Overview of the Forensic Investigation and Its Findings
The joint forensic investigation conducted by the SAPS Internal Audit Directorate and its Risk and Integrity Management Division produced a 370‑page report completed in April 2025. The document details systemic corruption, fronting, and bribery surrounding the awarding of a R360 million health‑risk‑management contract to Medicare24 Tshwane District. Investigators traced financial flows, communications, and accommodation records to establish a “specific pattern” linking former Police Minister Bheki Cele to illicit benefits provided by Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, the sole director of Medicare24. The report concludes that Cele failed to disclose his relationship with Matlala, creating a severe conflict of interest and breaching National Instruction 18 of 2019, which governs private benefits and sponsorships for police officials. Consequently, the investigators recommend that Cele be criminally prosecuted for receiving unlawful gratification.
Details of the Alleged Gratification: Cash Withdrawals and Penthouse Access
Forensic examiners analysed the bank statements of Medicare24 Tshwane District and CAT Protection and Security (Pty) Ltd. They identified a series of large cash withdrawals—each ranging from R200 000 to R400 000—made within days of Matlala’s meetings with Cele. The timing suggests a direct transfer of funds following personal encounters. In addition to cash, investigators uncovered a luxury accommodation arrangement: Matlala leased a penthouse at The Capital Menlyn Maine in Pretoria, a high‑end facility offering a spa, exotic cocktails, and boardrooms. On 27 January 2025, Matlala sent a WhatsApp message to the hotel’s sales manager, Trucelle Snyman, requesting that Cele be granted unrestricted access to the penthouse whenever he visited Pretoria. Keycard logs obtained by the investigators confirmed that the apartment was occupied during the period in question, substantiating the claim that Cele used the residence free of charge. Cele’s failure to declare this benefit constitutes a violation of the aforementioned national instruction.
The Medicare24 Contract and Its Timeline
Medicare24 secured a three‑year, R360 million contract with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in June 2024 to provide health‑risk‑management services. Notably, this award occurred in the same month that Bheki Cele’s tenure as police minister ended. Although the alleged gratification took place between January and March 2025—after Cele had left office—Matlala stated that he cultivated a friendship with Cele precisely because he sought political influence to thwart SAPS attempts to cancel the contract. The contract was ultimately terminated in May 2025 after widespread non‑performance emerged. The temporal proximity of the contract award, Cele’s departure, and the subsequent cash and hospitality benefits raises questions about potential quid‑pro‑quo arrangements, even if Cele no longer held official authority at the time of the alleged payments.
Statements from Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala
During testimony before the parliamentary ad hoc committee on police corruption, Matlala admitted to providing Cele with cash sums intended to secure political backing. He claimed he gave Cele R300 000 on one occasion and R200 000 on another, and that he had prepared a further R300 000 payment that never materialised because he decided to cease contact. Matlala explained that his motivation was to prevent the cancellation of the Medicare24 contract, which he viewed as vital to his business interests. He described meetings at Cele’s Pretoria residence in January 2025 and a subsequent encounter at a hotel in March, during which the cash exchanges occurred. Matlala also testified that he had sought assistance from senior police officials, including KwaZulu‑Natal police commissioner Lt‑Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Lt‑Gen Lineo Nkhuoa, who signed off on the Medicare24 service‑level agreement, underscoring the breadth of his alleged influence‑seeking network.
Bheki Cele’s Defense and Public Statements
Cele consistently denied receiving any money from Matlala, insisting that if the allegations were true, investigators must produce bank receipts demonstrating the transfers. Regarding the penthouse stay, Cele acknowledged that he used the apartment “for free” but argued that, as a retired citizen, he was under no obligation to declare such a benefit. He questioned the relevance of the alleged gratuity, asking, “When has it been a crime to sleep there?” Cele also contended that he possessed no political influence over the police after leaving office in June 2024, thus negating any possibility of a quid‑pro‑quo. In his appearances before the ad hoc committee, Cele stated, “I do not have a friend called Cat,” and described his initial impression of Matlala as a “cool guy” that soured after learning of Matlala’s alleged illicit activities, which he claimed prompted him to distance himself.
Impact on SAPS Operations and Project 5500
The forensic report highlights severe shortcomings in the execution of the Medicare24 contract. Most notably, the rollout of Project 5500—an initiative to enlist 5 500 entry‑level police trainees—was drastically delayed because Medicare24 failed to deliver 2 384 outstanding certificates of fitness (COF). An subsequent audit revealed that signatures on numerous COFs were forged, indicating fraudulent documentation. Between August 2024 and April 2025, SAPS paid Medicare24 approximately R50 million despite minimal substantive work being performed. These failures not only wasted public funds but also hampered SAPS’s capacity to recruit and train new officers, affecting operational readiness and public safety.
Additional Alleged Conspirators and Procurement Manipulation
Beyond Cele and Matlala, the report names several other individuals implicated in the corrupt scheme. Capt Brian Cartwright, a facilitator on the bid‑evaluation committee, is accused of leaking confidential tender documents to Matlala, including screenshots of the exact due‑diligence questions the committee would ask and Polfin reports containing competitor pricing schedules. This enabled Matlala to tailor a misleading presentation that secured the contract. Brig Petunia Lenono, a member of the bid committee, was found to have been illegally employed by Medicare24 during the contract’s execution, constituting a clear conflict of interest. Senior officials such as Maj‑Gen Fred Kekana and Lt‑Gen Molefe Fani were also implicated; Kekana reportedly informed Gen Fannie Masemola of the allegations months before the tender was awarded, yet the contract proceeded. The audit further disclosed that Medicare24 submitted fraudulent lease agreements and false business addresses across multiple provinces to fabricate a national footprint, and that physical due diligence was never performed at the bidder’s premises—only at the franchisor’s offices.
Legal Proceedings and Calls for Prosecution
The forensic investigators’ recommendation to prosecute Cele, Matlala, Cartwright, Lenono, and Fani has triggered further legal action. A September 30 2025 Pretoria High Court application lodged by Fadiel Adams, leader of the National Coloured Congress, seeks a judicial review of the National Director of Public Prosecutions’ (NDPP) decision to clear suspended National Police Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola of criminal charges. Adams argues that Masemela neglected to investigate or suspend the Medicare24 tender despite prior warnings of corrupt practices, and that dropping the charges against Masemola is irrational given the documented irregular expenditures. The application demands that corrective, remedial, and criminal actions be instituted against Masemola for failing to: (1) investigate allegations of supply‑chain‑management abuse, (2) reject the bid proposal, (3) prevent irregular expenditure, and (4) invoke Treasury regulations to reject or cancel the contract upon receipt of the allegations. Most of the individuals named in the forensic report—Matlala, Cartwright, and Lenono—have already faced criminal charges, while Fani remains under investigation.
Conclusion: Implications for Anti‑Corruption Efforts
The Cele‑Matlala case underscores the vulnerabilities inherent in public procurement processes when political connections, undisclosed benefits, and document fraud converge. The forensic report’s detailed trail of cash flows, keycard logs, leaked tender information, and falsified documentation provides a robust evidentiary basis for prosecution. Should the recommended charges proceed, they would signal a zero‑tolerance stance toward senior officials who exploit their former positions for personal gain, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability in SAPS contracting. Moreover, the case highlights the necessity of strengthening oversight mechanisms—such as mandatory disclosure of private benefits, rigorous vetting of bidders, and independent audits—to prevent similar schemes from undermining public trust and diverting resources away from essential police functions. The ongoing judicial review and potential prosecutions will serve as a litmus test for South Africa’s commitment to rooting out systemic corruption within its law‑enforcement agencies.