JUST IN: Cat Matlala withdraws from plea deal
· Citizen
Tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala has declined the plea deal offered by the court, resulting in his prior agreement with the state being nullified.
Matlala returned to the dock in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday, 13 July 2026.
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This follows the rejection of his plea agreement with the state by Magistrate Ignatius Du Preez on 1 July.
He had pleaded guilty to charges of corruption, money laundering, and fraud linked to a R228 million health services contract awarded to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, by the South African Police Service (Saps).
As part of the agreement, Matlala had also committed to testifying as a state witness in collaboration with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac).
However, the court found the proposed sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, with seven years suspended, to be too lenient, as it would result in only eight years of actual jail time.
Du Preez instead proposed an effective sentence of 12 years’ direct imprisonment.
Cat Matlala rejects plea deal
On Monday, Matlala’s lawyer confirmed his withdrawal from the deal.
“Mr Matlala have been informed by counsel on your behalf in respect of yourself, accused two and three that it is your choice to withdraw the plea and sentence as you decline to accept the court’s recommended sentence agreement.
“The plea and sentence agreement is then regarded to be null and void,” Du Preez ruled.
The case was postponed to 11 September for the state and defence to determine a way forward.
Matlala, along with his companies Medicare24 and Luxo Africa Brand Investments, will now face the trial.
Saps-Medicare24 tender
Before the plea deal, Matlala was among 17 accused facing charges related to a controversial multi-million rand tender.
The three-year contract, awarded in June 2024, had a budget allocation of R360 million, although Matlala’s successful bid was R228 million.
Subsequent investigations flagged the tender as irregular, revealing that at least R50 million had already been paid before the contract was cancelled in May 2025.
The case includes suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola (accused 17), Medicare24 Holdings managing director James George Murray (accused two) and 12 police officials.
Others implicated are Captain Brian Cartwright (accused three), Matlala’s alleged girlfriend Brigadier Rachel Matjeng (accused four), Brigadier Alpheus Thembinkosi Ngema (accused five), Brigadier Patrick Nethengwe (accused six), Colonel Tumisho Nehemiah Maleka (accused seven), and Major-General Busisiwe Temba (accused 10).
Brigadier Kirsty Jonker (accused 11), Brigadier Petunia Lenono (accused 12), Brigadier Ofentse Tlhoale (accused 13), Colonel Nonjabulo Mngadi (accused 14), Colonel Anton Paulsen (accused 15), and Colonel Johannes Monyai (accused 16) have also been charged.
The matter will resume on 28 August, with Masemola remaining out on warning, while the rest of the accused are out on bail ranging from R40 000 to R80 000.
Attempted murder trial and Madlanga commission
In addition, Matlala is facing multiple serious charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder relating to the failed assassinations of his former partner, Tebogo Thobejane, taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and music producer Seunkie Mokubung, known as DJ Vettys.
That trial is expected to begin on 20 July at the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.
The businessman is also set to appear before the Madlanga commission on Wednesday, 15 July, having previously testified before Parliament’s ad hoc committee in late 2025.
Past allegations have linked Matlala to the “Big Five” cartel believed to be involved in international drug trafficking, contract killings and other organised crimes, but he has denied this.