Sergeant Fannie Nkosi’s testimony reveals alleged corruption in tender-awarding at Tshwane Metro Police Department.
Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
The WhatsApp chats between Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, a Gauteng Organised Crime Unit officer and City of Tshwane chief financial officer (CFO) Gareth Mnisi suggested some members of ActionSA and EFF were involved in the alleged manipulation of a security tender at the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD).
This emerged during Nkosi's testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Thursday, where his relationship with Mnisi was scrutinised.
The commission heard testimony that some ActionSA members were involved in discussions about a security tender at the TMPD and that former TMPD deputy chief Umashi Dlamini Nkosi allegedly compiled a list of seven preferred companies, reportedly received from the EFF.
Evidence from WhatsApp chats showed Nkosi approached Mnisi with the list of companies and that EFF leader Julius Malema referred to as CIC Juju in the chats, is expected to confirm the companies' involvement.
Nkosi told the commission that he and Mnisi shared an interest in biking and that he once took Mnisi to a shooting range, which Mnisi enjoyed.
Nkosi's WhatsApp chats with Dlamini also came under scrutiny.
The chats revealed Dlamini messaged Nkosi commenting that Nkosi "captured" Mnisi and that Nkosi should prepare for a long-term strategy.
Dlamini added that Mnisi was the best person to have on one's side as he would help Nkosi achieve great things.
Nkosi said he interpreted the message to mean he was close to Mnisi.
The commission also flagged a WhatsApp chat between Nkosi and ActionSA MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, dated December 2, 2024. In it, Nkosi shared an address in Theresa Park with Morodi, claiming he wanted Morodi to address young women at the orphanage centre.
Morodi afterward thanked Nkosi for making her birthday special.
Their chats were followed by a message from Morodi sending Nkosi a document on the land leases tender.
Nkosi said both he and Morodi had previously discussed the land the city would lease. He said Morodi told him the tender was already on a public platform.
"By the time she sent me this the tender bid was already closed," Nkosi said.
Evidence leader Advocate Mathew Chaskalson SC asked Nkosi why he was interested in land leases. Nkosi said: "I didn't have any interest. It was just a discussion."
The commission heard that Mnisi in a WhatsApp chat asked for Nkosi's brother's vendor number in Tshwane.
Nkosi said his brother was applying for short supply work in Tshwane and was not getting anything.
He claimed Mnisi wanted to check why Nkosi's brother was not receiving anything.
Nkosi said he was unsure if his brother’s company was already on a panel of suppliers appointed by the city.
On January 7, 2025 Mnisi sent Nkosi a message detailing a tender for the supply, delivery and off-loading of refuse bags for the city for a three-year period, as and when required.
The tender message was accompanied by a message stating that Mnisi had also sent the same message to Bheki (Nkosi's brother) and that they “need to regroup on this”.
Nkosi explained that he understood Mnisi’s message about regrouping to suggest they should meet and if Bheki qualified, he should apply for the tender.
One of Nkosi's WhatsApp chats revealed an incident where he was driving to Mpumalanga with Mnisi when a call came in from someone demanding payment owed to them or their company, threatening legal action against the city. The caller was linked to Gubis, a security company that complained about outstanding invoices.
Nkosi said although Mnisi received the call, he overheard their conversation and decided to intervene by speaking to Dlamini to sort out the payment dispute.
Political parties have since reacted to Nkosi's testimony. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont announced on Thursday that his party has initiated a full internal investigation to determine the veracity of Nkosi's claim.
Nkosi claimed individuals believed to be representing ActionSA participated in discussions relating to tenders in the city.
Beaumont said ActionSA regards any allegation of corruption or impropriety, even an untested one, with the utmost gravity.
Nkosi's testimony is still under way.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za