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Cancelled health contract leaves police short of 5,000 officers

Published

Police leaders told Parliament's Police Portfolio Committee that a cancelled health contract left the police short of more than 5,000 officers. The R360 million Medicare24 Tshwane District contract ended in January 2025.

Police leaders told Parliament's Police Portfolio Committee that a cancelled health contract left the police short of more than 5,000 officers. The R360 million Medicare24 Tshwane District contract ended in January 2025. Without it, police could not finish the medical screening of 6,125 recruits.

The February enlistment moved to the current financial year. Major-General Leon Rabie said the target for that year is now 11,000 trainees.

Key facts

Who
Parliament's Police Portfolio Committee (briefed on the 2025/26 annual report); Major-General Leon Rabie (explained to members of parliament); South African Police Service (subject of briefing); Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala (initially awarded the Medicare24 Tshwane District contract)
What
Police top brass briefed Parliament on the 2025/26 annual report, explaining how the cancellation of the R360-million Medicare24 Tshwane District contract in January 2025 prevented medical screening of new police recruits. The contract was initially awarded to Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. The termination of the health risk manager's contract meant a mandatory medical assessment could not be completed…
When
7 October 2026
Where
Parliament
Status
Reported

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