South African President Ramaphosa Suspends Top Police Chief Over $21M Health Contract Scandal

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the country's top policeman on "precautionary suspension" after he was charged in court on Tuesday. Gen Fannie Masemola, 62, is alleged to have failed in his oversight duties in connection with the awarding of a controversial $21m (£15.5m) health contract, which has become the subject of a criminal investigation and has since been cancelled. He has been charged with violating part of South Africa's Public Finance Management Act, which governs how taxpayers' money is spent. Masemola told journalists after Tuesday's hearing that he denied the charges. "I know that I'm not guilty, I'm not wrong, but the [law] must take its course," he said. He is the third South Africa police chief to face a criminal investigation while in office. Ramaphosa said he had decided to suspend the policeman because of the "seriousness of these charges and the critical role that the national commissioner of police plays in leading the fight against crime". The president made the announcement during a press briefing in the capital, Pretoria, with Masemola's replacement, Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane, standing alongside him. Ramaphosa stressed that it was vital for the law enforcement agencies to be "capable, ethical and effective" and that they have the confidence of the people of South Africa. Masemola's court case relates to a tender awarded to controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's company Medicare24 Tshwane District in 2024, which was meant to provide health services to the police. It was cancelled a year later, in May 2025, and since then a dozen senior police officers have been formally charged over their role in the awarding of the contract. They have been accused of colluding with Matlala, who has also been charged with corruption. None of them have yet been asked to plead in court. Masemola, who was also not asked to enter a plea, is the only one who has not been charged with corruption. He faces four counts of breaching the public finances act. The allegations about the health contract tender came up at an inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, set up by Ramaphosa last September to look into corruption in the police force.