Medicare case postponed to November
A review panel of prosecutors and attorneys will assess evidence in the R228m healthcare tender matter before deciding whether to proceed to trial.
Sixteen accused in a tender corruption case will return to court in November following delays caused by an ongoing legal review of their charges.
The Tshwane District Medicare 24 corruption case against businessperson Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and 15 co-accused has been postponed to November 17.
Review panel assesses evidence
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) says the delay was for the review panel to complete its assessment of the validity of the charges against the accused and for the National Director of Public Prosecutions to issue an instruction on the way forward.
”This forms part of the IDAC Reset Project, which includes the review of all cases by a review panel comprised of senior prosecutors from the NPA as well as senior attorneys from the SIU. This process is undertaken to ensure that all precepts of the law were followed and to assess whether the evidence contained meets the minimum threshold for convictions,” IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said.
Mamothame asserts that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), through IDAC, is committed to ensuring that all aspects of the law are adhered to when bringing perpetrators of corruption to book.
Matlala and the co-accused face charges arising from the alleged irregular awarding of a contract valued at approximately R228m to Medicare 24 Tshwane District.
Plea deal negotiations collapse
Matlala was previously offered an eight-year plea deal for his alleged role in exchange for turning state witness against the co-accused. Negotiations broke down when the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court departed upward from the recommended sentence, stating that eight years was too lenient for the nature of the crimes and recommending 12 years instead.
Criminal charges against suspended national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola were dropped after the review team concluded that there were no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution.
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