PRETORIA — South African anti-corruption investigators have arrested 12 senior police officers on suspicion of corruption and fraud, prosecutors confirmed on Wednesday.
The officers appeared in court in Pretoria as part of an ongoing crackdown on alleged corruption within the country’s police service.
The investigation is linked to a controversial contract for health and well-being services awarded to a private company. Authorities say the officers were involved in the bidding process and should have disqualified the company’s application.
A 13th suspect, identified as Vusimuzi Matlala, was also arrested. He is the owner of Medicare24, the company that secured the contract, and is suspected of having links to organized crime. Matlala is already being held in a maximum-security prison on separate attempted murder charges.
The case comes amid broader investigations into alleged high-level corruption within the South African Police Service. President Cyril Ramaphosa previously ordered an inquiry into the claims and suspended the police minister last year.
A separate parliamentary inquiry is also examining allegations that senior police officials had corrupt relationships with criminal figures and may have received payments in exchange for favors.
In court, prosecutors told the Pretoria Magistrates Court they would not oppose bail for the accused officers, who have already submitted affidavits supporting their applications.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing as efforts intensify to root out corruption within law enforcement.
