Fresh allegations have emerged linking controversial businessman Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala to former senior police officer Petunia Lenono in the ongoing scandal surrounding a R360 million SAPS Health Services tender.
According to reports, Lenono was part of the bid evaluation team that awarded the lucrative contract to Matlala’s company. After the tender was secured, she allegedly left her position within the police service and joined the very company that received the deal — a move that has raised serious red flags over potential conflicts of interest and unethical conduct.
Lenono has denied any wrongdoing and insists she did not know Matlala before the bidding and awarding process took place. However, her career transition from evaluating the contract to reportedly working for the recipient company has fueled public suspicion amid growing concerns about procurement integrity within the South African Police Service.
The tender, already under scrutiny due to Matlala’s alleged links to senior officials and criminal syndicates, is fast becoming a symbol of the blurred lines between public service and private enrichment. Calls for a full investigation into the circumstances of the tender award and Lenono’s career move are growing louder, as South Africans demand accountability and transparency from law enforcement leadership.
This latest revelation adds further pressure to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is already facing criminal charges and mounting public outrage over claims of widespread political interference and corruption within SAPS.
