South Africa’s national police commissioner, Fannie Masemola, has been charged in a widening corruption investigation linked to the award of a 360 million rand ($21 million) police health-services contract to a businessman already under scrutiny for tender fraud, the Financial Times said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the National Prosecuting Authority had confirmed the criminal charges against Masemola, who was summoned on Wednesday to appear in court next month, the news outlet reported. 

The move came shortly after 12 senior police officers appeared before the Pretoria magistrates court on charges including fraud, corruption and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. They appeared alongside businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, whose company Medicare24 was awarded the three-year contract in 2024 to provide medical assessments and wellness services to 180,000 police staff. Matlala has also been charged, according to the FT. 

Prosecutors allege the 12 officers played roles in the award of the contract, which was later cancelled. State prosecutors also allege that Medicare24’s computerized system was incompatible with the police mainframe.

The case is one of several to emerge after allegations last July by KwaZulu-Natal’s police commissioner that a drug cartel had infiltrated the police force and that the police minister was undermining an investigation into political killings. Ramaphosa later suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu while the investigation continued, the FT said. 

Matlala, who is also facing attempted murder and money laundering charges in a separate case, remains in custody and denies all charges. The 12 police officers were released on bail and were not required to enter pleas.

Read more at the Financial Times