General Fannie Masemola, 62, was summoned to court over his alleged part in the awarding of the tender, which has since been cancelled. The court case relates to a tender awarded to controversial businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala's company Medicare24 Tshwane District in 2024, which was meant to provide health services to the police. The tender was cancelled a year later, in May 2025.
Since the tender cancellation, a dozen senior police officers have been formally charged over their role in the awarding of the contract. They have been accused of colluding with Matlala, who has also been charged with corruption. Masemola is the only one who has not been charged with corruption; he faces four counts of breaching the public finances act.
I know that I'm not guilty, I'm not wrong, but the [law] must take its course.
These charges fall under section 38 of the law, which outlines the responsibilities of accounting officers. Masemola, as the police's accounting officer, has been accused of failing in his duties. He has been charged with violating part of South Africa's Public Finance Management Act, which governs how public finances are managed.
According to BBC News - World, General Fannie Masemola described knowing he is not guilty but said the law must take its course. None of the charged individuals have yet been asked to plead in court. His case has been postponed until 13 May when Masemola will join the 16 others, including senior police officers and Matlala, in the case.
The allegations of how Matlala got the contract were made at an inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa last September to look into corruption in the police force. Masemola is the third police chief to face a criminal investigation while in office.