Matlala to rejoin 14 accused in R228m Medicare24 case after plea deal collapses

Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala

Pretoria – Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala will rejoin 14 other accused in the multimillion-rand Medicare24 case after his plea-and-sentence agreement with the State collapsed. 

Matlala made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where the case was postponed to September 29. 

The appearance was intended to facilitate his return to the regional court, where he will face the other accused in the case. 

Matlala’s matter had previously been separated from the main case after he entered into a plea agreement with the State. 

However, the agreement collapsed over the proposed sentence. 

Matlala rejected a 12-year term of direct imprisonment and indicated that he was prepared to accept an eight-year sentence instead. 

The case centres on allegations of corruption linked to a South African Police Service healthcare contract worth up to R228 million. 

Matlala is among several people accused in connection with the Medicare24 tender, which has been the subject of scrutiny over how the contract was awarded and the relationships surrounding it. 

Meanwhile, the charges against suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola were withdrawn on Tuesday following a review of the evidence. 

Masemola had been charged alongside Matlala and the other accused in connection with the Medicare24 healthcare tender. 

Matlala is expected back in court on September 29, when the process of rejoining the main matter is expected to continue. 

The accused have not been convicted of the charges against them and remain entitled to the presumption of innocence. 

Picture: X/@Abramjee

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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi

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