Medicare24 case takes twist as Matlala pulls plug on plea deal

Alleged underworld figure, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, has withdrawn his plea agreement in the controversial Medicare24 saga, after the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria rejected his proposed sentence.

Matlala appeared briefly in court on Monday, after the court refused to accept a plea agreement that would’ve seen him sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, instead indicating that a 12 year sentence would be more appropriate.

As a result, Matlala’s guilty plea to charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption linked to the R228 million SAPS Medicare24 tender has been deemed null and void.

Matlala is charged alongside several high-ranking police officers, including suspended National Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, and his alleged ex-lover, former police officer, Rachel Matjeng.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, said the collapse of the plea agreement means the state cannot use the contents of Matlala’s affidavit, which allegedly implicates senior police officials.

“Now, the plea has been deemed to be null and void. Nothing that was in that plea can be used. Therefore, we have got to continue with our own investigations from IDC’s side. What will then happen is we’ll then ask for the court to then rejoin him as accused number one in the other cases so that he can now be tried.

“By not accepting the plea, he’s basically saying, I will go full force with the trial,” he added.

Kganyago said despite the plea agreement below, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption’s (IDAC) investigations into the Medicare24 tender continues.

“Obviously, you would know that our matter in the other case was not dependent entirely on the plea because we had already arrested people who were involved in this.

“And therefore, we arrested them on the basis of the evidence we have against them because we would not have done that. Therefore, the plea agreement came after.

“It was just to add other more people that were going to be mentioned in the plea. Therefore, we’ll do our own investigation and then get our own evidence. If it leads to all of them again, therefore, they will be arrested as we did with the other ones,” said Kganyago.

The matter has been postponed to 11 September.

Meanwhile, Matlala is expected to appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday.

The NPA to Proceed with the Case Amid Matlala’s Plea Withdrawal and Notes Madlanga Commission Proceedings pic.twitter.com/3U2aNMV6U6

— NPASouthAfrica (@NPA_Prosecutes) July 13, 2026