Firoz Cachalia Defends General Puleng Dimpane Over Controversial Medicare24 Tender, SA Unconvinced

• Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia weighed in on Major General Puleng Dimpane's role in the Medicare24 tender
• The Medicare24 tender has resulted in the arrest of 12 senior police officers, and General Fannie Masemola was also implicated
• South Africans weighed in on Professor Cachalia's comments, but many expressed doubt about his statement

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

WESTERN CAPE - Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has defended Acting Commissioner Major General Puleng Dimpane, saying that she was not involved in the controversial multi-million-rand tender awarded to Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala's Medicare24 Tshwane.

The Acting Minister of Police addressed questions about General Dimpane while appearing before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.

Cachalia responded as part of the peace and security cluster, directly pushing back against concerns raised by civic organisations that the Acting National Commissioner may have been complicit in the irregular contract, given that she headed the SAPS finance division when the initial payments were processed.

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Cachalia outlines General Dimpane's actual role

According to the acting minister, the CFO position carries no involvement in the awarding of contracts. He further argued that Dimpane's intervention was constructive rather than problematic.

"The CFO is not involved at any stage in the awarding of the contract. And in fact, General Dimpane only became involved once the audit committee had made findings of irregular expenditure in terms of that contract. She then stopped payment on invoices," Cachalia told the NCOP.

He added that Dimpane ensured the irregular expenditure was formally recorded and that she pushed for a full forensic inquiry into the matter. The Medicare24 tender has resulted in the arrest of 12 senior police officers. Suspended National Commissioner Major General Fannie Masemola was subsequently charged in connection with the same contract.

How did South Africans react?

South Africans were largely unconvinced by Cachalia's defence of Dimpane, questioning whether any CFO could be unaware of a major tender processed within their division.

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Oupa Machailo said:

"She was involved. She was the CFO of the South African Police Service."

Jaya Pillay wrote:

"But wasn't she the CFO? And Parliament believed Cachalia."

Buti Budaza asked:

"Who was in charge of Police Executive Finance? What was Puleng’s role as a CFO?"

Victor Sambo commented:

"He was just appointed after the incident. He wasn't even part of SAPS, but now he is already taking sides."

Jane Tsharane added:

"She was CFO; it's not possible."

Source: Briefly News