President Cyril Ramaphosa has told the nation that authorities are acting decisively after 12 senior police officers were arrested on corruption charges.
South African anti-graft investigators have arrested 12 high ranking police officers in Pretoria over alleged corruption and fraud involving a contract to provide health and well-being services to officers.
The arrests come amid ongoing inquiries into high-level corruption in the South African Police Service. President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered one investigation and suspended the police minister last year, while Parliament continues a separate inquiry into alleged collusion between senior officers and organized crime figures.
Investigators said the 12 officers appeared in court alongside Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, director of the company awarded the contract and suspected of links to organized crime. Matlala is currently in a maximum-security prison on unrelated attempted murder charges.
Some officers were part of the bid committee that evaluated the contract. Prosecutors allege they should have disqualified Matlala’s company. All defendants submitted affidavits for bail, which prosecutors indicated they would not oppose.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing as the nation watches the case, which has highlighted alleged systemic corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement.
Goodness Anunobi
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