Pertunia Lenono denies improper relations with Vusumuzi ” Cat” Matlala

Former SAPS Brigadier, Clinical psychologist and consultant Petunia Lenono, spoke to Qoli Mngambi of Newsroom Afrika on 9 July 2025. The discussion centers on allegations of a conflict of interest and impropriety against Ms. Lenono concerning a R360 million police health services tender awarded to a company named Medicare 24.

The core allegations that Ms. Lenono denies are:

• That she used her senior position within the police’s psychological services to improperly influence the awarding of the tender to Medicare 24.
• That her resignation from the police force, just weeks before the tender was awarded, was strategically timed to allow her to benefit from the contract.
• That she had an pre-existing and undisclosed relationship with Vumuzu Matlala, the owner of Medicare 24, who is now reportedly in jail.
• That she had a formal employment or contractual relationship with Medicare 24 immediately after leaving the police service.

In the interview, Petunia Lenono addresses these claims directly. Here are the key points from the discussion:

• Role in the Tender Process: Lenono states that while she was the section head for psychological services, her role on the bid evaluation committee was limited to the initial screening phase. She insists the final decision was made by higher-ranking committees.
• Resignation from the Police: She asserts that her resignation was motivated by a desire to “expand her purpose” and pursue other opportunities, and was unrelated to the timing of the tender award, which she claims she was not aware of.
• Relationship with Medicare 24’s Owner: Lenono denies knowing the company’s owner, Mr. Matlala, before the tender was awarded. She claims she was only introduced to him and the company in January 2025 to discuss a potential consulting role.
• No Formal Contract: She clarifies that no contract was ever signed between her and Medicare 24. She states they were only in negotiation and she had not performed any work or received any payment from them.
• Use of Company Email: Lenono explains that she was given a Medicare 24 email address to facilitate preliminary communication for a potential future role, but it did not signify a formal agreement.
• Future with the Company: Given the controversy and the fact the owner is incarcerated, Lenono states she has no intention of pursuing a relationship with Medicare 24 and is focused on her other mental health endeavors.