By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) Director for Asset Protection Security Services Tshukudu Malatji has denied any wrongdoing in the continued deployment of ad hoc security services, insisting he never authorised or instructed such deployments despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Resuming his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday, Malatji rejected claims that he had instructed road policing officer Major Lebogang Phiri to deploy private security firm Gubis85 Solutions among others, in a controversial security tender aimed at protecting municipal infrastructure.
“I do not remember instructing Phiri to deploy any ad hoc service, either in January 2025 or before. If it happened that he had signed contracts, he did it on his own and not with my instruction,” Malatji said.
Phiri had previously told the commission he was charged with coordinating and commanding security services for municipal infrastructure sites, sharing evidence on how he was delegated to run the security deployment.
The commission considered an email sent by Malatji to Phiri and Senior Superintendent Kwapeng Madihlaba, in which he wrote: “Please get Phiri to run with the process and let’s monitor progress”.
Commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga said the correspondence, read alongside exchanges with water and sanitation engineer Herman Segolela, as well evidence from TMPD deputy commissioners Revo Spies and Sean Bolhuis appeared to indicate an intention to proceed with deployment.
One of Segolela’s emails urged urgency, stating that the department has forwarded all the information needed and were still waiting deployment confirmation, citing vandalism at the Klapperkop reservoir.
Madlanga observed that “the overarching purpose” of the email exchanges “was ultimately to have a deployment”, adding that Phiri’s version appeared plausible in context.
Malatji, however, pushed back, maintaining that his instructions were procedural rather than operational.
One of the contradictions in Malatji’s testimony surrounded his previous assertion that he had not followed the instruction from Spies to cancel the ad hoc contract due the deployment having failed to follow the steps set out in the standard operating procedure (SOP).
He further denied that the email in which he wrote to “run with the process” did in fact mean continuing deployment.
“It is not true that instructing them to run with the process meant that they should continue deploying security. They themselves know that in order for deployment to be carried out there must be a SOP,” he said.
He emphasised that the SOP requires a formal request from the user department, confirmation of available funds, and clarity on the duration of services before any deployment can be authorised.
“There shall be no deployment done unless the department requesting security has committed funds to service the deployment,” he said.
Malatji argued that even if deployment letters were issued, they would only be valid if compliant with SOP requirements and signed by his office.
However, under questioning, Malatji conceded that he had, on 7 January 2025, instructed Phiri to address security concerns at vulnerable sites, including Klapperkop, but insisted this did not amount to authorising broader deployments.
Tensions escalated when Commissioner Chair Mbuyiseli Madlanga challenged Malatji on his apparent failure to act decisively despite repeated urgent requests from the user department.
“You couldn’t sit and fold your arms and wait for them to come to you,” Madlanga said.
Commissioner Sandile Khumalo stressed that from the date of the cancellation instruction until June, the services continued, costing the city more than R50 million.
Malatji acknowledged shortcomings but resisted full responsibility.
“I am not reluctant or afraid to account for my conduct. But, I think it would be fair and it would be just for this Commission to know that, among other things, I might have done things wrong, if indeed I’ve done things wrong. But, the motivating factor is, my colleagues wanted to take advantage of this Commission to get rid of Director Malatji,” he said.
He suggested that Spies, Bolhuis and other officials were attempting to deflect blame onto him.
“The very same superiors are washing their hands and they want to paint Director Malatji black, as if he had a benefit to derive from these transactions,” Malatji said.
But evidence leader advocate Mpilo Sikhakhane pressed Malatji on how, as a director, he bore responsibility for enforcing procurement rules and halting irregular expenditure.
“You are in charge of the standard operating procedures. It can’t be that you don’t know how to enforce it,” he said.
The director has been excused for now, with another session, for cross-examination from his own legal team, to be scheduled at a date still to be determined.
The commission continues on Monday morning.
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