Pretoria – The R228 million Medicare24 corruption case involving alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused has been postponed after the National Prosecuting Authority ordered a fresh review of the matter.
According to EWN the 16 accused, including two companies linked to Matlala, face charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering relating to a South African Police Service (SAPS) wellness tender awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District.
Matlala appeared in the Pretoria Regional Court on Tuesday, 29 September, when prosecutor Saneel Manilal told the court that National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi had instructed a case assessment team to review the matter in its entirety.
“The National Director of Public Prosecutions has instructed that there be a case review assessment team appointed to review this case in its entirety,” Manilal told the court according to The Citizen.
The team previously reviewed the part of the case involving suspended national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, whose charges were withdrawn on 22 September following an NPA review.
Manilal asked for the case to be postponed for about a month after the assessment team meets again on 8 October, allowing it time to compile recommendations for the NDPP.
The matter was subsequently postponed to 17 November.
Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused in the R228-million SAPS tender case will return to court on 17 November, pending the review board’s decision on the charges against the accused and the entire case. eNCA’s @Sli_Masikane reports. Tune in to #eNCA on #DStv403. pic.twitter.com/XE3jzkO3qY
— eNCA (@eNCA) September 29, 2026
The case initially involved 17 accused before Matlala’s matter was separated while he negotiated a plea-and-sentence agreement with the State.
That agreement later collapsed after Matlala rejected a proposed 12-year direct prison sentence. His matter was subsequently transferred back to the Pretoria Regional Court and joined with the remaining accused.
The State confirmed that Masemola’s charges had been withdrawn on the instruction of the NDPP, with the indictment amended accordingly.
Matlala is now back in the main case alongside 13 other individuals and his two companies.
The case centres on allegations surrounding the awarding of the Medicare24 Tshwane District contract, valued at approximately R228 million.
Matlala remains in custody, while the other accused are out on bail. The allegations against them have not been tested to finality in court.
Matlala’s lawyer objected to the proposed November date, telling the court that his client would be involved in another High Court trial throughout the fourth term.
“There is a trial that’s running the whole fourth term,” the lawyer told the court.
Manilal, however, said 17 November suited the other accused and suggested that the proceedings could continue in Matlala’s absence if necessary.
“The date suits all the other parties. There are 15 of them,” he said.
The court agreed to the date, with the possibility that Matlala’s matter could be postponed in his absence.
One of the accused was also absent from Tuesday’s proceedings.
Her lawyer told the court that she was ill and submitted a medical certificate.
“Unfortunately, she is ill. I do have a medical certificate,” the lawyer said.
The court issued a warrant for her arrest but suspended its execution until 17 November.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
