SAPS procurement head concedes Matlala's company wasn't fully compliant with tender requirements

The South African Police Service's (SAPS) head of procurement has conceded that Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's company, Medicare24, was not fully compliant with tender requirements when it was awarded a R360 million medical contract with the police.

General Molefe Fani told the ad hoc committee investigating police corruption allegations that Matlala’s company had failed to sign a franchise agreement, a step explicitly required in the tender documents.

Fani was responding to questions about SAPS procurement processes before the ad hoc committee on Thursday, which focused its business on tender-related matters, particularly Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's multi-million rand tender that was cancelled last year.

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Evidence leader, Advocate Lerato Zikalala, questioned Police Divisional Commissioner Faniabout whether any "red flags" were identified when Matlala’s company was shortlisted.

Zikalala also pressed Fani regarding the company’s failure to sign a franchise agreement, noting the company did not operate from its own premises.

"Doesn’t that mean a mandatory requirement was not complied with?" Zikalala asked.

Fani agreed, acknowledging the omission.

"What it indicates is that the franchisee did not sign, which makes the document not to be complete. It’s not being complied to if the signatures are not complete," he responded.

Fani further stated that they failed to spot red flags concerning Matlala’s alleged involvement in the Tembisa Hospital tender fraud because due diligence was conducted elsewhere.