Shadow players: Mnisi and Nkosi under fire at Madlanga Commission over tender collusion

The allegedly corrupt relationship between Tshwane's suspended Chief Financial Officer, Gareth Mnisi, and implicated police officer, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, has once again taken centre stage at the Madlanga Commission.

The two stand accused of corruption and colluding to direct lucrative municipal tenders toward their preferred bidders. Facing a gruelling cross-examination today, Mnisi denied all allegations levelled against him.

Evidence presented to the commission has established a pattern of communication between the two men regarding sensitive municipal business.

It has been established that Sergeant Nkosi sent Mnisi a list of seven companies bidding for a security tender at the municipality.

Ultimately, two of those companies were selected as successful bidders, including one owned by Nkosi’s brother.

The investigation further revealed that Mnisi involved Nkosi in an invoice dispute with a service provider, which included sharing internal municipal data.

In another incident raised today, Nkosi sent Mnisi a leaked, confidential draft report from the City’s Bid Evaluation Committee regarding an active open tender.

READ: Mnisi accused of using his position to cancel tender on behalf of notorious taxi boss

As the Chairperson of the Bid Adjudication Committee, Mnisi was grilled on why he failed to report the leak of the confidential draft report. Mnisi maintained that the document was harmless and did not warrant an escalation.

“I assessed the contents of the document. The document, from my perspective, did not need me to take any further steps. This was information that was already available to the public upon my receipt of this document. It did not contain anything sensitive.”

The commission further revealed the depth of their personal association through recovered WhatsApp chats. These records establish that Sergeant Nkosi assisted Mnisi with personal security arrangements, including providing a driver and armed bodyguards.

The inquiry continues as the commission seeks to determine if these personal favours were provided in exchange for the manipulation of municipal contracts.