South Africa’s top police officer is set to face court over a disputed multi-million dollar health services tender, deepening scrutiny on the leadership of the country’s law enforcement agency amid an ongoing corruption probe.
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola has been issued with a notice to appear in court on April 21, linked to his alleged involvement in the awarding of a $21 million (about Sh2.7 billion) contract. Authorities have not disclosed the exact charges he will face.
The deal in question was awarded in 2024 to a company owned by businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, trading as Medicare24 Tshwane District, to provide health services to police officers. The contract has since been cancelled following claims of corruption in how it was issued.
Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed that Masemola had been formally served, adding that the commissioner “has taken note of the charges brought against him and he has pledged his full cooperation with all lawful processes”.
The National Prosecuting Authority, through spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, also confirmed the development, saying, “We cannot divulge the charges until they are presented to him.”
Masemola becomes the third serving police chief in South Africa to be caught up in a criminal investigation. There has been no communication on whether he will be suspended, with President Cyril Ramaphosa only stating that he “will be addressing the matter… in accordance with the law”.
The controversy around the tender has widened, with 12 senior police officers already charged over their alleged role in the procurement process. Investigators claim the officers colluded with Matlala in securing the deal. They are facing charges of corruption and fraud, though they have not yet entered pleas in court.
Matlala is also facing a separate attempted murder charge, which he has denied.
The allegations around the contract emerged during hearings of the Madlanga Commission, which was set up by Ramaphosa to investigate corruption within the police service. The inquiry was triggered after a senior officer alleged that criminal networks had penetrated government structures, claims that later led to the dismissal of the country’s police minister.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the latest developments involving Masemola and the charged officers, with his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya saying the president, “working together with the minister of police, is committed to ensuring that the [force] remains stable and able to continue fulfilling its policing mandate”.
The case adds to a history of legal troubles involving top police officials in the country. Former commissioner Jackie Selebi was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for accepting bribes from an Italian drug trafficker in exchange for protection.
Another former acting commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane, was charged with corruption in 2017. Although those charges were later withdrawn, he was rearrested in 2019 on similar allegations, which he has denied. His case remains before the courts.
