National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi ordered the withdrawal of charges against suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola on Monday 15 September 2026. The NPA Masemola charges withdrawn decision follows a review of the charges in the R228 million SAPS-Medicare24 tender case. Furthermore, the NPA said the review revealed no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution. As a result, Masemola becomes the second senior police official to have charges withdrawn by Mothibi after Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo in August 2026.
Masemola faced four counts of contravening Section 38 of the Public Finance Management Act. The charges linked him to the R228 million SAPS contract awarded to Medicare24, a health services company connected to alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Masemola was not charged with fraud or corruption. His legal team submitted formal representations to Mothibi on 7 August 2026 asking for the prosecution to be reconsidered. Furthermore, Mothibi confirmed in July 2026 that Masemola’s matter fell within the NPA’s broader review of IDAC-related charges. As a result, Monday’s withdrawal was anticipated but its confirmation carries significant legal and political weight.
Masemola still needs to appear in court for the formal withdrawal. The withdrawal does not constitute an acquittal or a finding of innocence. It means the NPA does not believe it has sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. Furthermore, the NPA retains the right to re-enrol the matter if new evidence emerges and Mothibi approves. As a result, the door to future prosecution remains open in theory even as the current case closes.
The Medicare24 case is one of the most significant corruption matters to emerge from the Madlanga Commission. Cat Matlala initially entered into a plea deal with the state. The NPA hoped his evidence would lead to prosecutions of other senior police officials. Matlala later withdrew from the deal, forcing the case to start afresh. That collapse created serious evidentiary problems for the NPA’s case against the other accused. Furthermore, the Madlanga Commission heard extensive evidence about how the Medicare24 contract was awarded and who allegedly enabled the deal. As a result, the commission’s work and the criminal prosecution ran on parallel tracks with each affecting the other.
Masemola’s suspension as National Police Commissioner remains in place. Ramaphosa suspended him in connection with the Medicare24 charges. The South African Policing Union previously called on Ramaphosa to reinstate Masemola while the NPA reviewed the charges. Furthermore, the withdrawal of charges removes one of the key legal justifications for his continued suspension. As a result, pressure on President Ramaphosa to lift the suspension and return Masemola to his post is now likely to grow significantly.
The Masemola withdrawal follows a pattern of the NPA under Mothibi reviewing and walking back IDAC-initiated prosecutions. Mothibi withdrew the charges against Khumalo and six co-accused in August 2026. The Madlanga Commission found IDAC’s investigation into those officials lacked a proper evidentiary basis. Furthermore, the NPA launched a six-month reset of IDAC in July 2026 to address concerns about the quality and legality of its investigations. As a result, the Masemola withdrawal is the latest consequence of a broader reckoning with how IDAC operated under former head Advocate Andrea Johnson.
Editors Note The withdrawal of charges does not constitute a finding of innocence or guilt. Masemola must still appear in court for the formal withdrawal. The NPA retains the right to re-enrol the matter with the written approval of NDPP Andy Mothibi. All information is based on reporting by EWN, The Citizen, IOL, African Insider and Joburg ETC published on 15 September 2026. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.