'No investigation will find me culpable': SAPS General Fani defends Matlala's R360m tender
Parliamentary Committee Grills SAPS Supply Chain Head Over Controversial Tender
Image: X
Lieutenant General Molefe Fani, head of the South African Police Service’s Supply Chain Management unit, has firmly stated that no investigation into the controversial R360 million tender awarded to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Medicare24, will find him culpable of any wrongdoing.
Fani faced rigorous questioning this week from a parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee established in October 2025 to probe allegations of corruption and infiltration within SAPS.
The committee was set up after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused criminal syndicates, including Matlala, of capturing significant parts of the police service.
Medicare24 was awarded the high-value security tender in June 2024, outperforming 21 other bidders.
However, soon after the award, media reports and an internal audit cast doubt on the contract’s legitimacy.
It was revealed that Medicare24 lacked a valid operating license and failed to disclose critical supplier arrangements - raising questions about the tender evaluation process.
The tender became especially contentious given Matlala’s alleged connections to criminal networks and politically exposed individuals, such as former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has faced accusations of colluding with criminal groups to manipulate police operations.
Addressing the committee, Gen Fani unequivocally defended his role in the tender award process.
“Medicare24 was vetted and found compliant with the Treasury’s Central Supplier Database at the time,” he said.
Asked directly by ANC Member of Parliament Xola Nqola if he were certain no probe would implicate him, Fani responded firmly: “No report will find such.”
When Nqola pressed on whether consequence management should be considered for officials who may have overlooked inconsistencies, Fani remained confident.
“I believe that the entire process was done correctly,” he stated.
He elaborated, “The bid evaluation committee’s report indicated everything was above board, and the adjudication committee awarded Medicare24 the tender without any member declaring conflicts or concerns.”
Despite these assurances, the committee confronted Fani with audit findings that pointed to irregularities - including undisclosed franchise agreements and alleged tampering with the price schedule.
Fani acknowledged these issues but stressed that specific documentation was not mandatory during the tender submission phase.
Explaining the complexities of procurement regulations, he said, “Allegations outside procurement criteria - such as suspected criminal links - are referred to Legal Services. We cannot disqualify a supplier solely based on media reports without legal direction.”
He also noted that the evaluation process relies heavily on the Central Supplier Database and related registers. “At the time, no official restrictions applied to Matlala or Medicare24.”
Following the audit and a ministerial directive issued in December 2024, the tender was ultimately cancelled due to the uncovered irregularities.
Gen Fani’s testimony shed light on ongoing systemic weaknesses in SAPS’s procurement processes and illustrated the challenges officials face in balancing technical bid evaluations with emerging criminal allegations.
The parliamentary committee will continue in the coming weeks to investigate further witnesses regarding the broader claims of infiltration and corruption within the police service.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
IOL Politics