Madlanga Commission | Bolhuis denies authorising additional sites for Gubis 85 Solutions

Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) Deputy Chief of Police, Commissioner Sean Bolhuis, has told the Madlanga Commission that he was not involved in, nor aware of, the allocation of additional ad hoc security sites to Gubis 85 Solutions.

Testifying at the commission on Wednesday, Bolhuis insisted that those responsible for the contested allocations must be held accountable.

He told the commission that while acting in the Asset Protection and Security Services (APSS) caretaker role in February last year, he was neither consulted nor informed about any ad hoc site allocations to security companies, including Gubis 85 Solutions.

Bolhuis said APSS director, Tshukudu Malatji, who reported directly to him, oversaw the divisions day-to-day operations, including security contracts.

Despite Gubis 85 Solutions allegedly receiving the majority of ad hoc sites, Bolhuis said he was unaware of the number of sites allocated to the company.

He maintained that he was never consulted by officials, including Malatji, Senior Superintendent Dr. Kwapeng Madihlaba, or then junior inspector Lebogang Phiri, all of whom are alleged to have been involved in approving the allocations.

Bolhuis described the rapid allocation of sites within a month as unjustified and irregular.

According to his testimony, Dr. Madihlaba allocated 40 ad hoc sites to Gubis 85 Solutions between 14 January and 13 February 2025, while Dr Madihlaba assigned an additional two sites.

Bolhuis said both officials issued notification letters for the deployments, with each site staffed by 24 security officers and supported by three patrol vehicles.

The commission heard that the company has received more than R14 million for the services, averaging over R1 million per month.

“I emphasise that while acting as caretaker I did not authorise Dr. K.E Madihlaba to allocate the two sites to Gubis 85 Solutions Pty. Ltd. nor did Dr. Madihlaba have authority to allocate sites. Because such authority lies with the director of APSS Mr. Malatji. At no stage did Mr. Malatji inform me that he gave permission for the allocation of these sites or that he delegated the allocation of sites to Mr. Phiri and Dr. Madihlaba,” Bolhuis said.

Concerns over structure and oversight

Bolhuis also criticised the decision to transfer the APSS Unit from the City of Tshwane to the TMPD, describing it as impractical.

He told the commission that, in addition to holding two full-time positions and one part-time role within TMPD, he was also assigned to oversee HR matters for the APSS division following the transfer on the 1st of July 2025.

Bolhuis told the commission that the unit’s structure provides for 4,106 approved positions, most of which are vacant and unfunded, with only 31 permanent staff and 1,287 contract security officers.

He said the structure is neither feasible nor financially sustainable.

He added that TMPD is now working on a revised structure that will likely reduce numbers of positions.

Meanwhile, TMPD Chief of Police Commissioner Yolande Faro, told the commission that she was unaware of any service level agreement between the City of Tshwane and El Shaddai Security Services.

Documents presented at the inquiry, show a concluded tender for a land invasion agreement awarded to the company, with Faro listed as a signatory, a claim she strongly denies.

Faro said she was on leave at the time and only became aware of the agreement upon her return.

Faro told the commission she was on leave at the time the agreement was allegedly signed off, adding that her deputy, Commissioner Revo Spies, was acting in her position and is also listed among those who signed the agreement.

She maintains that no communication regarding the deal was ever directed to her.

“Commissioner Khumalo, I have not seen the service level agreement before it was signed. No draft was sent to me, nothing was sent to me to go through. I did not receive it. The only time I saw it is when I came back from my leave,” Faro said.

Commission chair, Sandile Khumalo, described the matter as “a red flag”, raising concerns about how agreements of such magnitude could be concluded without the knowledge of senior TMPD leadership.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao