Madlanga Commission | Mnisi denies interacting with Malema

Suspended City of Tshwane CFO, Gareth Mnisi, has denied receiving a list of companies bidding for a Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) tender from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema.

This follows revelations at the Madlanga Commission that TMPD Deputy Chief of Police, Umashi Dlamini, asked suspended South African Police Service (SAPS) Sergeant Fannie Nkosi – through WhatsApp messages – to forward a list of seven companies to Mnisi to verify if it matched one he allegedly received from “CIC JuJu.”

The tender in question relates to TMPD ad hoc services appointments, with at least 57 companies having submitted bids to procure the contract.

Mnisi told the commission that of the 57 companies, only seven were successful, including Ngapesheya Security Services and Elshaadai Security Services.

Mnisi said he does not know why Dlamini would suggest anyone from the EFF would provide him with a list of bidding companies, adding that he never interacted with Malema.

The commission also heard that Mnisi forwarded a news article about Malema to Nkosi, a move he claims was intended to show that Tshwane was performing well.

Mnisi also told the commission that he was merely stringing Nkosi and Dlamini along, when he responded that he was “on top of this,” after being asked to “check compliance” for a list of seven other companies.

Mnisi responded to questions on WhatsApp exchanges, presented at the commission on Monday, between himself and Nkosi.

The messages were sent after Dlamini forwarded the list to Nkosi, who in turn shared it with Mnisi for verification.

Mnisi told the commission the matter began when Nkosi persistently requested that he verify compliance for Elshaadai Security Services and Ngapesheya Security Services – the latter reportedly owned by Nkosi’s brother, Bheki.

Mnisi said the discussion escalated until Nkosi eventually sent him a list of seven companies, despite him allegedly informing Nkosi that he could not assist with the matter.

Mnisi claims that, as Nkosi appeared not to accept his position, he decided to “play along” and pretended he would assist.

Mnisi further maintains that Nkosi and Dlamini only asked him to verify whether the companies met mandatory administrative compliance requirements, and that the request was not related to the adjudication or selection of tender awards.

Mnisi also denies receiving kickbacks for allegedly assisting Ngapesheya Security Services in securing a tender, maintaining that he merely offered advice to Nkosi regarding the company’s tender bid as a friend.

The commission heard evidence of WhatsApp exchanges between Nkosi and Mnisi suggesting that Mnisi advised Nkosi to inform his brother that Ngapesheya Security Services needed to upgrade its grading to an “A” level before it could qualify for the tender, as its documents reflected a “B” grading.

Mnisi has rejected this interpretation, saying he only reviewed the documents, identified a shortcoming, and informed Nkosi that the company would only qualify once it met the required “A” grading standard.

He further claims the conversation was not specifically about the TMPD ad hoc services tender.

Mnisi maintains that the discussion had no link to the TMPD ad hoc services tender, despite it taking place during the period when the department was considering bids, while he chaired the Bid’s Adjudication Process.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao