A 370-page police forensic report, concluded in April, has recommended that former police minister Bheki Cele be criminally prosecuted for allegedly receiving unlawful "gratification" from Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala's companies. The report details systemic corruption, fronting, and bribery surrounding a R360m contract awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a company linked to Matlala, to provide health-risk management services to the South African Police Service (SAPS) in June 2024.
According to the forensic report, investigators examined the bank records of Matlala's companies, uncovering a "specific pattern" of large cash withdrawals occurring within days of Matlala's meetings with Cele. The report alleges that Cele received "gratification" and "private benefits" from Matlala, including luxury penthouse stays and hundreds of thousands of rands in cash, between January and March 2025.
Matlala's company, Medicare24 Holdings, won the three-year contract in June 2024, the same month Cele's term as police minister ended. However, the contract was ultimately cancelled in May last year. Matlala claims he cultivated a friendship with Cele to seek a political strategy to thwart police efforts to cancel his contract, believing Cele might be able to assist him.
Cele has denied receiving any money from Matlala, stating that he never received any cash and had no political influence over the cancellation of the contract. He also questioned the alleged crime of staying in Matlala's penthouse, saying, "If they say I got money, they must show me bank receipts which show that I received the money. Also, when has it been a crime to sleep there [in Matlala's penthouse]?"
The forensic report also exposes a luxury accommodation arrangement, where Matlala leased a penthouse at The Capital Menlyn Maine in Pretoria. On January 27 last year, Matlala sent a WhatsApp message to the hotel's sales manager, instructing management to grant Cele access to the penthouse whenever he was in Pretoria. Keycard logs confirmed that the apartment was occupied during this period.
The report's recommendations were included in a September 30 Pretoria high court application lodged by Fadiel Adams, leader of the National Coloured Congress. Adams is petitioning for a judicial review to overturn national director of public prosecutions Andy Mothibi's decision to clear suspended national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola of criminal charges.
Key points
- The forensic report recommends Cele be prosecuted for allegedly receiving unlawful "gratification" from Matlala's companies.
- Cele has denied receiving any money from Matlala and claims he had no political influence over the cancellation of the contract.
- The report details systemic corruption, fronting, and bribery surrounding the SAPS contract awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District.
