City of Tshwane’s corruption accused CFO Gareth Mnisi is expected to appear before the Madlanga Commission on April 17.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
Tshwane Chief Financial Officer Gareth Mnisi has been given another seven days to explain why he should not be suspended, as serious allegations against him continue to unfold at the Madlanga Commission.
Mnisi briefly appeared before the commission on Thursday, where his testimony was postponed to April 17.
Evidence before the commission has linked Mnisi to an alleged network of senior officials accused of interfering in procurement processes to favour specific bidders.
The claims were presented through testimony by Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, whose subpoenaed WhatsApp messages form a central part of the evidence.
According to the commission, the messages suggest repeated engagement between Nkosi and Mnisi on tender-related matters, including discussions around invoices and procurement decisions.
More seriously, the evidence indicates that the two allegedly pursued a government contract in a so-called “Matthew Phosa municipality” in Mpumalanga, an entity that does not exist.
Despite being absent from work for weeks, Mnisi has not yet been formally suspended. That decision now hangs in the balance.
Behind closed doors on Wednesday, the Tshwane council convened an extraordinary in-committee meeting, focused solely on a confidential report outlining the next steps in Mnisi’s case.
The meeting followed a March 26 resolution to serve Mnisi with notice of a precautionary suspension, while giving him an opportunity to respond.
Mnisi was initially granted seven days to make written submissions.
However, his legal team, Mathopo Attorneys, pushed back, challenging both the substance and procedure of the city’s actions.
“You provide no details whether the council even considered whether our client’s presence at the workplace will jeopardise any investigation,” the lawyers argued, also accusing the municipality of misapplying disciplinary regulations.
But the City of Tshwane has stood firm.In a legal opinion dated April 3, Advocate Nadine Erasmus, the city’s head of legal, dismissed Mnisi’s objections, insisting the process is sound.
“A notice of precautionary suspension should contain enough detail to justify the suspension without acting as a final disciplinary charge sheet,” she wrote.
City Manager Johan Mettler has since extended Mnisi’s deadline, giving him until April 11 to respond.
The extension effectively delays a final decision, but Mnisi’s position remains under scrutiny as investigations continue.
His postponed testimony at the commission is expected to be a key moment in the process.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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