Alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his co-accused will return to the Johannesburg High Court on June 17 after a pre-trial hearing on Monday focused on outstanding disclosure issues, changes to legal representation and a dispute over the collection of fingerprints linked to a separate criminal investigation. The matter forms part of the attempted murder case connected to actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, who survived a brazen shooting attack in Johannesburg in 2023. Matlala, who has been denied bail…

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police has welcomed the suspension of five additional senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officers linked to the controversial Medicare24 tender, describing the move as an important step towards accountability in one of the biggest corruption scandals to engulf the police service in recent years. The suspensions, announced by SAPS on Monday night, form part of ongoing investigations into the awarding of the Medicare24 contract, which has already resulted in criminal charges, arrests and disciplinary action…

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has suspended nine police officers who served on the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) responsible for assessing bids linked to the controversial Medicare24 tender, marking the latest development in a corruption scandal that has rocked the country’s law enforcement leadership. In a brief statement issued on Friday, SAPS confirmed that the officers had been placed on suspension pending the outcome of disciplinary and related investigations. “The affected members have been placed on suspension pending the…

National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday as the criminal case against him, linked to a controversial police tender, was postponed to 13 May 2026. Masemola faces four counts of allegedly contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), stemming from the awarding of a multimillion-rand contract to Medicare 24, a company associated with alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. The contract, valued at approximately R228 million, has been at the centre of an…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has declined representations made by Zandile Nthabiseng Nzama, a co-accused in the high-profile attempted murder case involving Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four others, signalling that the State is ready to proceed to trial. Nzama briefly appeared in the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg this week, where her legal team confirmed plans to escalate their representations to the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) following the rejection by the Director…

About 12 senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officers are expected to make a dramatic first appearance before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court following their arrest in connection with an alleged multi-million rand corruption scheme linked to the awarding of a controversial healthcare tender. According to IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame, the arrests, carried out on 24 March 2026 by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). The arrest have sent shockwaves through law enforcement ranks, with those implicated holding…

The pre-trial conference in the case involving alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has been postponed by the High Court of South Africa following a request from the defence for further disclosure. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Matlala’s legal team submitted a list of additional documents they require from the State. The prosecution has also received representations from the defence counsel of one of the co-accused, while another indicated plans to do the same. Matlala appeared alongside his…

The Johannesburg High Court on Thursday postponed the pre-trial hearing of businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his four co-accused to 6 February, as concerns mounted over his continued detention at a correctional facility hundreds of kilometres away from the court where his case will be heard. Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala and three others made their first appearance in the High Court, facing a total of 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and money…

North West businessman Brown Mogotsi delivered a series of startling claims when he testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Tuesday. Mogotsi told the commission that he has long operated as an agent for the country’s Crime Intelligence and that he was first recruited in 1991. He said his work as an intelligence operative for the South African Police Service relied on the use of active informants to gather information and support investigations. During his testimony, Mogotsi…

The Johannesburg High Court has denied bail to alleged crime boss and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is facing 11 counts of attempted murder and other serious criminal charges. The ruling was handed down on Monday, 27 October 2025, in Pretoria, after Matlala lodged an appeal against an earlier decision by the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, which had also refused him bail. Matlala, who is alleged to be a member of the so-called “Big 5 Cartel,” remains behind bars following the…