Gareth Mnisi defends document leak as attempt to enforce new security controls

Tshwane’s suspended Chief Financial Officer, Gareth Mnisi admitted to sending internal municipal documents to a controversial police officer, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi.

The documents in question relate to the municipality’s new policy regarding the cessation of ad-hoc security services. Historically, the Tshwane Municipality has regularly commissioned approved service providers to guard its infrastructure on an emergency, ad-hoc basis.

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Mnisi claims that while travelling in a vehicle with Sergeant Nkosi, he received a phone call from a frustrated service provider. The head of Gubis 85 Solutions reportedly complained to Mnisi that his security firm had not been paid for six months of ad-hoc services rendered to the city.

According to Mnisi, the municipality reached a formal resolution to halt these services after discovering that the costs had ballooned significantly over budget.

Mnisi testified that he informed Nkosi of this new resolution during their time together. He justified sharing the confidential correspondence by stating it was necessary to manage stakeholder expectations.

"I thereafter forwarded the letter to Sergeant Nkosi, as he was already involved in the matter, to ensure that all relevant stakeholders were made aware that new internal controls were in place and as such would be adhered to strictly going forward so as to avoid a repeat of the same situation that resulted in the delay of payments in the first instance."

Mnisi is scheduled to return for cross-examination on Monday morning.