BREAKING | Fannie Masemola cleared of charges over R360m SAPS tender

The Pretoria Magistrate's Court has formally withdrawn the charges against South Africa's Police Commissioner General, Fannie Masemola, in connection with a R360 million SAPS health tender awarded to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. Masemola faced four counts of contravening Section 38 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) due to his role as an accounting officer.

The case stemmed from a police healthcare procurement process involving Matlala's company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, valued at approximately R360 million, with the central contract at the heart of the proceedings valued at R228 million. Investigations revealed irregularities, with at least R50 million paid before the SAPS cancelled the contract in May 2025.

Masemola was suspended following allegations of inadequate oversight over the tender. However, the charges did not allege that he directly committed fraud or corruption. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) concluded that the evidence did not meet the necessary threshold for a successful prosecution. The NPA invoked Section 179(5)(c) of the Constitution and Section 22(2)(b) of the NPA Act, authorizing the withdrawal of the charges.

The NPA stated that there were no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution against Masemola on these PFMA charges. This decision represents a significant shift in a case that brought attention to SAPS procurement practices and Masemola's oversight responsibilities. The NPA emphasized that pursuing a prosecution without sufficient evidence would not serve the public interest.