The South African Police Service (SAPS) has dismissed Brigadier Rachel Matjeng after an internal disciplinary process found her guilty of multiple counts of serious misconduct linked to her relationship with alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Her dismissal took effect on 30 June 2026, marking one of the highest-profile disciplinary actions taken against a senior police officer implicated in the widening fallout from the controversial R228 million SAPS health services contract awarded to Medicare24.

The disciplinary outcome comes as Matlala, who has pleaded guilty to fraud, corruption and money laundering, appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, where his anticipated plea and sentence agreement hit an unexpected hurdle.

SAPS confirmed that Matjeng was found guilty on charges including accepting gratification, money laundering, dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the administration of the police service.

She was also found guilty of improperly advising Matlala against the interests of SAPS and providing him with a list containing details of SAPS members with the intention of deriving a financial benefit.

Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane welcomed the dismissal, saying it demonstrated the police service’s commitment to rooting out corruption within its ranks.

“The outcome sends a clear message that corruption, criminality and any form of collusion with criminals have no place in the SAPS,” Dimpane said.

Matjeng is also facing criminal charges alongside Matlala and other accused linked to the multimillion-rand contract.

Her relationship with Matlala came under intense public scrutiny during the Commission of Inquiry chaired by Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

During her testimony before the commission, Matjeng admitted she was romantically involved with Matlala but denied any corrupt relationship.

She claimed that hundreds of thousands of rand deposited into her accounts were merely a “girlfriend allowance” from Matlala rather than proceeds of crime.

Evidence presented before the commission and in court previously alleged that Matjeng received about R300 000 from Matlala during the period under investigation.

Following her testimony, she was arrested and later released on bail pending her criminal trial.

The disciplinary findings now effectively end her policing career while the criminal case continues through the courts.

Meanwhile, developments in Matlala’s own criminal case took another dramatic turn on Wednesday.

The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court declined to immediately endorse the sentence proposed in Matlala’s negotiated plea agreement with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Matlala has already pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering relating to the R228 million Medicare24 contract awarded by SAPS.

As part of the plea agreement, he has agreed to become a state witness and provide evidence against other individuals allegedly implicated in the corruption scheme, including senior SAPS officials.

The court heard that Matlala had submitted affidavits identifying high-profile police officials allegedly involved in the deal and undertook to testify honestly in all future criminal proceedings arising from the investigation.

However, Magistrate Ignatius du Preez indicated that the proposed sentence did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offences and suggested alternative sentencing arrangements for both the prosecution and defence to consider.

The court proposed a 15-year prison sentence on the fraud conviction, with seven years suspended.

On the corruption charge, the magistrate proposed a 10-year prison sentence, with eight years to run concurrently with the fraud sentence.

For the money laundering conviction, the court similarly proposed a 10-year sentence, with eight years running concurrently.

If accepted by both parties and ultimately confirmed by the court, the proposed sentences would result in an effective 12-year term of imprisonment.

The court also proposed strict conditions governing Matlala’s role as a state witness.

These include that he must testify in all future criminal proceedings arising from the matter, remain truthful and cooperative throughout, and may not refuse to testify or later retract statements made to investigators during the period of his suspended sentence.

The NPA and Matlala’s legal team have been directed to consider the court’s proposed amendments before the plea agreement can be finalised.

The twin developments — Matjeng’s dismissal and the court’s intervention in Matlala’s plea deal — represent another significant escalation in one of the country’s biggest police corruption scandals.

The investigation continues to widen, with prosecutors expected to rely heavily on Matlala’s testimony as they pursue additional suspects allegedly involved in the awarding of the multimillion-rand SAPS contract.