‘CAT’ AND THE COPS: Officers charged in R228m Matlala fraud case back on the beat

Seven SAPS officers accused of helping Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company secure a R228m tender are back at work, but their criminal and disciplinary cases are far from over.

Seven of the 12 senior SAPS officers accused of helping Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala secure a R228-million police tender are back at work, but they are still facing criminal charges and disciplinary proceedings.

The officers have not been cleared of any wrongdoing and continue to face disciplinary proceedings, while the criminal case against them and Matlala is ongoing.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the officers had resumed their duties on Monday, 17 August, but cautioned against interpreting their return as an indication that the allegations against them had been dismissed.

“Indeed, the members have returned to work. However, this should not be interpreted as them having been cleared, as disciplinary proceedings against them are still ongoing,” said Mathe.

She clarified that after an officer is suspended, SAPS regulations require disciplinary hearings to be finalised within 60 days or the officer can return to work while the hearings continue.

Mathe said the investigation was also continuing, with its complexity making it premature to comment on its eventual outcome. She would not name the seven officers.

“The investigation remains ongoing due to the complexity of the matter, and it would therefore be premature to comment on its outcome at this stage,” she said.

The development comes a month after Matlala withdrew from his plea and sentence agreement with the State in the R228-million SAPS Medicare24 fraud case.

At the time, NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the collapse of the agreement meant the State could no longer rely on anything contained in Matlala’s admissions. Instead, the State would continue building its case through the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac).

Under the plea agreement , Matlala had admitted to fraud, corruption and money laundering arising from the alleged rigging of the R228-million SAPS tender. In return, he was set to receive an effective eight-year prison sentence after being handed a 15-year term with seven years suspended.

Matlala withdrew from the agreement after it was rejected by the court, which said an effective eight-year sentence was inappropriate.

The agreement would have allowed the matter to be concluded much sooner. Its collapse means the National Prosecuting Authority will now have to proceed with a full trial, with the State required to build its case without relying on Matlala’s admissions made under the agreement.

Among those facing charges is former national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who has been implicated in the broader investigation into the controversial tender. Masemola is charged alongside Matlala, the 12 police officials and Matlala’s business associate James Murray.