South Africa’s top police officer, General Fannie Masemola, has been formally charged with failing to provide proper oversight in connection with a health contract that is now at the centre of a criminal investigation.
The 62-year-old police commissioner appeared briefly before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged with violating South Africa’s Public Finance Management Act, which governs the management of public funds.
The case involves a $21 million (£15.5 million) tender awarded in 2024 to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a company owned by controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The contract, intended to provide health services to the police, was cancelled in May 2025.
Since the cancellation, a dozen senior police officers have been charged over their role in awarding the deal. They are accused of colluding with Matlala, who has also been charged with corruption. None have yet been asked to enter a plea.
Masemola, who was also not required to plead, faces four counts of breaching the public finances act. Unlike the others, he has not been charged with corruption. The charges fall under a section of the law that outlines the responsibilities of accounting officers — a role Masemola holds for the police service.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Masemola denied any wrongdoing.
“I know that I’m not guilty, I’m not wrong, but the law must take its course,” he said.
His case has been postponed to May 13, when he will join 16 other accused — including senior police officers and Matlala — in court.
The allegations against Matlala emerged from the Madlanga Commission, a national inquiry established by President Cyril Ramaphosa last September to investigate corruption within the police force.
Masemola is the third police chief to face a criminal investigation while in office. In 2010, Jackie Selebi was sentenced to 15 years in prison for taking bribes from an Italian drug lord. In 2017, Khomotso Phahlane was charged with corruption; those charges were later withdrawn, but he was arrested again in 2019 on similar charges, which he denies. That case remains before the courts.
