Matlala’s alleged ex-lover dismissed from SAPS

South African Police Service (SAPS) brigadier and alleged former partner of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, Rachel Matjeng, has officially been dismissed from the police service.

Matjeng was found guilty on multiple counts of serious misconduct following a disciplinary process linked to her relationship with the alleged underworld kingpin.

The charges included accepting gratification, money laundering and improper conduct after she was found to have advised Matlala in a manner contrary to the interests of the South African Police Service.

Acting National Police Commissioner, Puleng Dimpane, says Matjeng’s dismissal sends a clear message that corruption, criminality and any form of collusion with criminals have no place within SAPS.

Meanwhile, Matjeng is facing criminal charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering, alongside Matlala and suspended National police commissioner, Fannie Masemola, in connection with the controversial Medicare4 tender saga.

Matlala previously admitted to paying Manjeng approximately R300,000 in gratification in exchange for referring police officers to Medicare24 for medical screening.

Today, the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria rejected the proposed 8-year effective prison sentence contained in Matlala’s plea agreement.

This follows Matlala’s guilty plea to charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering relating to the Medicare24 tender.

Matlala, who will be tried separately from his co-accused, will now return to court on 18 July to allow the State and his legal team to consider the court’s proposed sentence of an effective 12 years’ imprisonment.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, says the State is comfortable with the court’s proposed sentence but will await Matlala’s legal team’s response.

“It’s just a matter of the two parties having to sit down and consider the things that are in the new proposed sentence, and if the agreement is reached, then it will continue. In principle, the agreement is there that there must be a deal. It’s just a matter of the sentencing.”

“Whatever happens here, it happens daily. Even when there is no plea agreement, we present our case, and the other party presents their case, and the magistrate will make a ruling.”

Meanwhile, the Activists and Citizens Forum says it will closely monitor the State’s plea agreement, raising concerns over what it describes as a lack of transparency.

The forum’s spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, says they strongly suspect that this deal is part of the faction in Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) fightback’s strategy against specific police officers.

“We have said many times before that IDAC is targeting the National Commissioner, Police Fannie Masemola, Head of Crime Intelligence General Dumisani Khumalo,  and General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. They have already cooked up charges against Commissioner Masemola.”

“They have found somebody like Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to be used to drag the names of patriotic, hard-working police officers in the mud, officers who are working very hard to rid the country of corruption, crime and drugs.”

Bloem added that IDAC should not underestimate the intelligence of South Africans.

#sapsHQ [ACTING NATIONAL COMMISSIONER WELCOMES THE DISMISSAL OF BRIGADIER RACHEL MATJENG]

The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has welcomed the dismissal of Brigadier Rachel Matjeng from the #SAPS with effect… pic.twitter.com/4YlHScfkwT

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) July 1, 2026