How Matlala’s firm scored multi-million rand SAPS tender despite being flagged

SAPS head of supply chain management Molefe Fani did not know that the company awarded the R360 million health risk management contract belonged to attempted murder accused tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.

- MAYIBONGWE MAGHINA

Fani told the parliamentary inquiry yesterday that he became aware of Matlala when reports surfaced that he won the SAPS contract.

“At that time, I did not know Cat Matlala at all.” The inquiry heard that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola was contacted by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) while the tender was being adjudicated around May 2024, warning that there was a company linked to Matlala that was bidding for the tender.

IDAC had informed Masemola that Matlala’s company did not have a tax clearance certificate, had been blacklisted, and was involved in the Tembisa Hospital R2 billion looting spree.

Masemola had spoken about the matter to the then acting divisional commissioner for supply chain management, Major General Hankins, who assured him that “there was nothing untoward with the evaluation process”.

The tender was advertised on January 31, 2024, followed by a briefing of service providers on February 8, 2024, and the bid application closed on February 19, 2024.