By Johnathan Paoli
The City of Tshwane has placed MMC for Corporate and Shared Services and ActionSA councillor Kholofelo Morodi on special leave with immediate effect following allegations at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that she may have influenced multimillion-rand tender processes.
In a statement, City of Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya confirmed that Morodi had been placed on special leave pending a preliminary investigation.
“In the interest of protecting the integrity of the institution, while ensuring fairness to all parties, the Executive Mayor has taken the decision to place MMC Morodi on special leave with immediate effect, pending a preliminary investigation into the matters raised before the Commission to determine whether a prima facie case exists,” she said.
Moya said the move was aimed at safeguarding transparency and institutional integrity in light of the developments.
“The City of Tshwane notes the testimony presented before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the allegations relating to MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Cllr Kholofelo Morodi. The City regards matters of this nature with the utmost seriousness, as they speak to the principles of transparency, accountability and ethical governance expected of all public office bearers,” she said.
She stressed that the decision was procedural and did not constitute a finding of guilt, but reflected the city’s commitment to transparency, accountability and due process.
Moya also added that Community Safety MMC Hannes Coetzee would act in the portfolio.
She confirmed that the city would formally request information from the commission.
“To support this process, the Executive Mayor will formally write to the Secretary of the Madlanga Commission, Dr Nolitha Vukuza, to request that the Commission furnish the City with any information in its possession relating to the allegations,” she said.
The political fallout has extended beyond the city, with ActionSA announcing a full internal investigation into claims arising from the same testimony, including allegations involving a WhatsApp exchange and possible party-linked individuals.
ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the party was treating the matter with urgency and seriousness, confirming that an internal probe was under way and warning of consequences if wrongdoing is established.
At the same time, Beaumont cautioned against accepting the claims at face value, describing them as “untested and politically convenient”, as they stem from what he termed “criminally implicated Sergeant Nkosi”.
“As a party with zero tolerance for corruption and unethical conduct, ActionSA will support all efforts to uncover the full facts through a thorough and fair investigation that leaves no stone unturned,” Beaumont said.
“ActionSA also commends Dr Nasiphi Moya for directing immediate engagement with the Madlanga Commission and for working to ensure cooperation between the City and the Commission, so that the City can urgently protect and uphold the integrity of its institutions.”
The DA has also weighed in, accusing ActionSA and its coalition partners of fighting over access to public resources and calling for sweeping investigations.
DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink said the commission had exposed deep-rooted political interference, arguing that the controversy surrounding Mnisi was driven by competing interests over contracts.
“What is now clear is that the fight over Mnisi’s position has nothing to do with principle. It is about tenders and control of resources,” Brink said.
Earlier on Thursday, at the commission, SAPS Sergeant Fannie Nkosi testified that Morodi was involved in WhatsApp exchanges relating to a municipal land lease tender.
He alleged that she shared a tender-related document with him in a personal message after thanking him for making her birthday “special”, raising concerns about her access to and handling of procurement information.
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