A key figure in a major police corruption scandal in South Africa pleaded guilty in a Pretoria court on Thursday to fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
Controversial businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala admitted to paying a senior police officer over $18,000 in exchange for her influencing a lucrative police service tender.
The charges are tied to a nearly $14 million deal for his Medicare24 Tshwane company to provide health and wellness service to the police.
The contract was later cancelled, but not before more than $3 million had been paid out to the company.
If Matlala’s plea deal is approved by the court, it will see him handed a 15-year prison term, with seven suspended.
