DPWI ends agreement with Medicare 24 tied to Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has terminated a lease agreement with Medicare 24 Tshwane, a company linked to attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

The move follows serious allegations made in the parliamentary ad hoc committee probing police corruption.

It dissected the manner in which the lease was awarded to Matlala's company.

DPWI Minister Dean McPherson said an internal investigation has found the lease agreement was unlawful.

He added that the hospital was not declared a surplus, which is a necessary precondition for any lease to take lawful effect.

This means there was no agreement from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to have it leased out in the first place.

"Therefore, it followed common cause the department had no right legal standing to then offer their property to Mr Matlala. We were also skeptical about some of the documents that had been submitted by his company, and so on the evidence before us, we took the decision this morning to terminate that lease, which has been communicated to the company."