By Charles Molele
City of Tshwane has launched an independent investigation to address allegations regarding deputy mayor Eugene Modise’s potential conflict of interest in relation to a contract awarded to Triotic Protection Services, a company previously associated with him.
Tshwane’s executive mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, released a statement on Wednesday addressing serious allegations against her deputy.
The city said it has acknowledged claims linking Modise to Triotic Protection Services, a company benefiting from a significant annual security tender worth R300 million awarded by the city.
“While I have accepted the Deputy Executive Mayor’s statement, the city will commission an independent investigation to thoroughly address these allegations. The deputy mayor fully supports this investigation,” said Moya.
“To ensure adherence to governance and ethical standards, I have engaged with the Deputy Mayor regarding the allegations. He informed me that upon assuming office as a councillor in 2023, he resigned as a director of the company and ceased involvement in its operations. He further clarified that he has no remaining financial or managerial ties to the company and does not derive any benefit from it.”
Jacqui Uys, DA spokesperson for Finance in Tshwane, said there was an urgent need for this investigation to ascertain if the deputy mayor Eugene Modise, an ANC concillor, has or is currently deriving financial benefits from this tender.
“If Modise is benefiting financially from the City of Tshwane, it cannot be overlooked or left unchallenged. The DA is committed to ensuring proper oversight and rectification should such benefits be confirmed,” said Uys.
Uys noted in a letter to the city manager, dated November of last year, that the DA raised concerns about the appointment of Triotic Protection Services to the City’s panel of security services, following a limitation flagged by the Auditor-General, specifically mentioning Triotic Protection Services.
The DA discovered that the South African Revenue Services (SARS) had obtained a judgement against Triotic for R59 million in unpaid taxes over a five-year period, which could have affected the company’s ability to obtain a tax clearance certificate.
While Modise resigned as a director shortly after becoming a City of Tshwane councillor in 2023, it has come to light that Triotic Protection Services’ registered address remains a property owned by Modise’s mother, Nelly Modise.
There are also allegations that Neo Mafodi, the company’s Human Resources (HR) manager turned director, is the mother of Modise’s child.
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