City of Tshwane’ chief financial officer Gareth Mnisi giving evidence before the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
Suspended City of Tshwane chief financial officer Gareth Mnisi has told the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry that his close friend Sergeant Fannie Nkosi sent him a list of bidders in the mistaken belief that he could assess their compliance.
The Commission - chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga - has previously heard that Nkosi, the SA Police Service Gauteng organised crime unit officer who is facing multiple criminal charges, sent a list of bidders to Mnisi for a tender that was under adjudication.
Mnisi said he and Nkosi shared no business relationship or common business interests. “I’ve never received payments or benefit, either directly or indirectly, from Nkosi. I further confirm that I have not received from a third party,” he insisted.
According to evidence before the Commission, among the companies was Ngaphesheya Construction and Projects, whose director is Nkosi’s brother Bheki.
On Friday, Mnisi testified that Nkosi’s request was premised on the mistaken belief that he would be able to check if the bids were compliant but that his friend was wrong.
In addition to Ngaphesheya Construction and Projects, the other companies were Gubis85 Solutions, Triotic Protection Services, Two Cop and Security Services, Ntsire Security and Protection Services and El Shaddai Security Services.
Mnisi said he had no interest or relationship with the companies, either directly or indirectly, their directors, shareholders or representatives as well as no personal, business, financial or any other association.
However, he said he knew that Ngaphesheya Construction and Projects’ director was Nkosi’s brother Bheki.
Mnisi added that he was aware that Triotic Protection Services was an entity previously associated with Tshwane deputy mayor Eugene Modise.
He said Modise was a director of the company but has since resigned. Mnisi said Nkosi informed him while they were socialising that his brother’s company was finding it difficult to navigate within the City of Tshwane’s procurement environment.
“At the time, there were numerous complaints raised by suppliers having difficulties engaging with the city's procurement processes. These concerns were regularly brought to the attention of the relevant offices, particularly during the migration to the new SAP business network with suppliers reporting challenges relating to vendor registration,” he said.
During his testimony, he described Nkosi as a close personal friend with whom he shared similar interests such as biking, sport shooting and appreciation of good food.
Mnisi said he met Nkosi on a number of occasions but could not state the exact number of the frequency of these meetings.
“We met each other on a regular basis and we did spend a considerable amount of time in each other’s company,” he told the Commission.
Mnisi continued: “I met Nkosi during an extremely difficult time, emotional and turbulent period in my personal life. At the time, I was going through a deeply painful and hostile divorce, which placed me under immense emotional strain.”
He said he found Nkosi to be a good listener and found himself confiding in him, seeking personal guidance and advice and support for the personal challenges he was facing at the time.
“I felt that I could trust him, and he would not betray my confidence,” Mnisi explained.
He testified that between December 2024 and June last year Nkosi assisted him by recommending the services of a driver and there was no quid pro quo (something given or received for something else).
Mnisi maintained that Nkosi was merely assisting a friend in need and that he paid the driver for the services he was providing to him. The Commission continues.
loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za