Five More Senior SAPS Officers Arrested In R360 Million Medicare24 Tender Probe

More senior police officials have been arrested as investigations into the controversial Medicare24 tender continue to gather momentum.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed on Monday that five additional senior officers have been implicated in the case linked to the R360 million contract. Their arrests push the total number of police officials detained in connection with the matter since March to 26.

“The South African Police Service (Saps) confirms the suspension of five additional senior officers in relation to matters arising from the Medicare 24 tender.

“Internal departmental processes are currently underway, and in the interest of preserving the integrity of these processes, the Saps will not provide further comment at this stage,” confirmed national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

Medicare24 Tender Investigation Sees More SAPS Arrests

The Medicare24 tender remains one of the key issues under scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Investigators have been probing allegations linked to the awarding and management of the lucrative contract.

The five newly arrested officers appeared in court and were granted bail. Bail amounts ranged between R40,000 and R80,000, with the matter expected to return to court on 26 June.

Medicare24 Tender Case Linked To Earlier Police Raids

The Medicare24 tender investigation has already resulted in several high-profile arrests. In March, members of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption carried out coordinated operations that led to the arrest of 12 police officers.

At the centre of the investigation is a contract awarded to businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. The agreement involved services that were meant to be provided to SAPS.

Medicare24 Tender Flagged Over Irregular Expenditure Concerns

The Medicare24 tender was reportedly identified as a concern during internal reviews in 2024. Then SAPS chief financial officer and current acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane told Parliament’s ad hoc committee on police corruption that the contract had been flagged in March last year.

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According to Dimpane, an irregular expenditure finding linked to the tender was confirmed in May 2024. She told the committee that payments connected to the contract were subsequently stopped on her instruction.

Matlala also appeared before the parliamentary committee in November. During his testimony, he outlined his connection to Medicare24 and discussed how he came to know the company’s owner, Mike van Wyk.

Matlala said he had met the company’s owner, Mike van Wyk, at a residential estate, where they had allegedly established mutually beneficial ambitions.