President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed allegations that newly appointed acting National Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane was implicated in the Medicare24 Tshwane District tender matter awarded to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, and that she allowed millions of rand to be paid to him.
Image: Phando Jikelo / RSA Parliament
President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed allegations that newly appointed acting National Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane was implicated in the Medicare24 Tshwane District tender matter awarded to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, and that she allowed millions of rand to be paid to him.
The case relates to an alleged irregular R228 million contract awarded to Matlala’s company.
Ramaphosa made the remarks while responding to oral questions in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon.
He was responding to a question from MK Party chief whip Seeng Mmabatho Nthabiseng Mokoena-Zondi.
Mokoena-Zondi said that Sections 8 and 9 of the South African Police Service Act, Act 68 of 1995, prescribe a mandatory board of inquiry and due process before the suspension or removal of a national commissioner.
She also said that Section 86 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Act 1 of 1999, criminalises financial misconduct only upon proof of wilful or grossly negligent conduct in a court of law.
She asked on what lawful and rational basis Ramaphosa bypassed the procedures set out in the SAPS Act in favour of what she described as a “consensual precautionary suspension”, despite the PFMA threshold for criminal liability not yet having been judicially established.
Mokoena-Zondi also questioned the appointment of Dimpane, the divisional commissioner responsible for Financial Management Services, alleging that her department allowed the payment of R48 million in the same Medicare24 tender process now under investigation.
She asked why Ramaphosa had not appointed an independent acting commissioner to avoid a reasonable apprehension of conflicted oversight and selective accountability.
Ramaphosa defended both his decision to suspend National Police Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola and his appointment of Dimpane.
“The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, consented to the suspension,” Ramaphosa said.
“As a result, there was no need to engage the process in Sections 8 and 9 of the SAPS Act, which are aimed at obtaining a basis for a suspension that is contested.”
He said the precautionary suspension was necessary to ensure stability and the effective functioning of the South African Police Service while the criminal process unfolded.
“It is important that the legal processes be allowed to unfold without any hindrance,” he said.
Ramaphosa said he appointed Dimpane because of her record and standing within the police service.
“She has had a long service record in the police service. There is, to my knowledge, no evidence that implicates Lieutenant General Dimpane in relation to the Medicare24 tender and contract,” he said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says acting police commissioner Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane was not implicated in the Medicare24 tender investigation and would lead SAPS independently while legal processes continue against suspended commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola.
Image: GCIS
He also expressed confidence in her ability to lead the police service.
“I have full confidence in her ability to act in the position of National Commissioner. She is fully supported by her colleagues and is working with them to ensure that we deal with the acts of criminality that are rife in our country,” he said.
Ramaphosa placed Masemola on precautionary suspension in April after he was charged with contravening the PFMA for allegedly failing to cancel Matlala’s SAPS contract before payments were made.
Masemola faces four counts under the PFMA in his capacity as accounting officer of SAPS. One of the charges alleges that he failed to ensure Medicare24 was properly screened before receiving the tender.
Dimpane is currently the Chief Financial Officer in the South African Police Services (SAPS).
She has been with SAPS for over two decades and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce as well as an Honours Degree in Business Administration.
Ramaphosa also addressed questions about mechanisms put in place to ensure Dimpane exercises oversight independently and without influence arising from her previous responsibilities.
He said the acting commissioner was supported by her colleagues and acting Police Minister Prof Firoz Cachalia.
“To my knowledge and observation, they are all working very well together and have developed a strong team spirit,” Ramaphosa said.
“I have no doubt that they will be able to execute the task at hand with the diligence it requires, without any form of interference from anyone.”
He added that he had instructed Dimpane to perform her duties without undue influence.
“She is quite an independent thinker herself, and I do believe that she will be able to act independently in the interests of the people of South Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, Masemola and 17 co-accused, including Matlala, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges related to the alleged irregular awarding of the contract.
The accused face charges linked to alleged breaches of the PFMA, fraud, money laundering and other financial misconduct.
The suspended top cop faces charges under the Public Finance Management Act.
Authorities allege the R228 million contract was irregularly awarded to Matlala’s company.
The matter was postponed to June 26, 2026, for further investigation.
The state is expected to disclose the docket to the accused and may amend the charge sheet following Masemola’s inclusion in the case.
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