Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is back in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court over the alleged irregular awarding of the R228 million Medicare24 Tshwane District tender.
Matlala is expected to be formally joined with 14 other accused facing corruption charges linked to the South African Police Service health-services contract awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a company owned by Matlala.
His case was previously separated after he entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the State.
Under the proposed agreement, Matlala was set to serve an effective eight-year prison sentence and cooperate with the State.
However, the court rejected the proposed sentence and indicated that an effective 12-year sentence would be appropriate.
Matlala subsequently rejected the revised sentence and withdrew from the agreement, rendering the plea deal null and void.
The collapse of the agreement means the State can no longer rely on admissions made in the withdrawn plea agreement, with the matter now expected to proceed as part of the broader trial.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) said Matlala and his two companies are expected to be joined with the other accused before the matter proceeds to the Pretoria Regional Court.
The broader case is scheduled to return to the Pretoria Regional Court on 29 September 2026.
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