City of Tshwane's CFO Gareth Mnisi is facing serious allegations of misconduct, including misrepresenting himself in his CV just weeks after being accused of late financial statement submissions.
Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
The City of Tshwane's chief financial officer (CFO) Gareth Mnisi, faces a new complaint from the sole Republican Conference of Tshwane councillor Lex Middelberg, who alleges Mnisi misrepresented himself in his 2023 job application, constituting serious misconduct.
This follows just two weeks after the regional ANC accused him of submitting the city's the 2023/24 financial year late in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
Middelberg's complaint was set to be discussed in-camera during a special council meeting at Tshwane House last week, but it was adjourned pending a report that is still being finalised.
Middelberg was not pleased with the postponement. He cited that the disciplinary code for senior managers requires council to convene a meeting within seven days to appoint an independent investigator after considering the complaint.
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya countered, explaining that according to council regulations, the council must consider the allegations and decide whether to appoint an independent investigator or dismiss the allegations.
"If we believe there is a reasonable course that an act of misconduct has been committed we must as a council appoint an independent investigator," she said.
Alternatively, if the council believes no misconduct occurred, it can dismiss the allegations, she said.
"This is the report which implicated the heart of the city which is the finance department. We didn't want to be reckless by bringing the report with incomplete information and misleading the council about the options we are given by the legislation to adopt," Moya said.
Council's leader of executive business, Aaron Maluleka, emphasised that the special council meeting requires credible information, acknowledging that a few outstanding matters still need attention before the report is finalised.
In a media statement, DA mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink confirmed that a special council meeting was convened to consider accusations made against Mnisi.
"As it is, no such report was tabled and the special council meeting was adjourned without conducting any business. The DA would like to see the report that was meant to be tabled, and if it warrants an investigation, such an investigation must follow," he said.
Brink described it as "incredibly suspicious" to convene a council meeting aimed at targeting senior officials, only to dissolve it without presenting "any evidence of wrongdoing on the CFOs part".
Two weeks ago Mnisi was criticised by the ANC regional secretary George Matjila who demanded that city manager Johann Mettler act against him.
Matjila called for Mettler to table a report to council recommending Mnisi's precautionary suspension following numerous allegations of misconduct, maladministration, and tender manipulation.
The party also called for a full, independent forensic investigation into the claims, which include unauthorised, irregular, wasteful, and fruitless expenditure.
Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo dismissed allegations that Mnisi failed to submit the annual financial statements on time.
"The City of Tshwane’s annual financial statements for the 2023/24 financial year were submitted on time to the Office of the Auditor General (AG). Confirmation can be obtained from the AG or National Treasury," he said.
The city recently came under fire from opposition parties following the tabling of the Auditor-General's 2024/2025 financial year report in council, revealing that the municipality has racked up another qualified audit opinion.
The FF Plus stated the current administration has led to a collapse in financial management, service delivery, and accountability.
The DA, on the other hand, said the audit report confirmed "that the city has gone backward under the ANC-led coalition of Mayor Nasiphi Moya".
Moya said: “The correct characterisation of the 2024/25 annual report is not one of a city in crisis, but of a city in recovery, rebuilding financial discipline, restoring governance credibility and steadily improving services to residents."
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za