Suspended Tshwane CFO Mnisi denies influencing tender awards

By Johnathan Paoli

Suspended chief financial officer of the City of Tshwane Gareth Mnisi has rejected claims that he wielded influence over the awarding of municipal tenders, insisting instead that his role as chairperson of the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) was limited to oversight and procedural validation.

Appearing before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Friday, Mnisi maintained his innocence following allegations from previous testimony that he colluded with suspended SAPS Gauteng Organised Crime Sergeant Fannie Nkosi to steer contracts toward preferred bidders.

“I do not influence, but I play oversight, in order to ensure that all procedures are followed at all levels through the BAC,” Mnisi said.

Leading Mnisi’s evidence, chief evidence leader advocate Mathew Chaskalson pressed him on a series of WhatsApp exchanges already before the commission, in which Nkosi forwarded lists of companies bidding for a lucrative City of Tshwane security tender, two of which were ultimately