Mnisi concedes ‘perception of conflict’ in handling some Tshwane tenders

In his concluding remarks at the Madlanga Commission, Tshwane’s suspended chief financial officer (CFO), Gareth Mnisi, conceded there may have been a “perception of conflict” in how he dealt with some tenders at the municipality.

These were tenders specifically linked to his friend and implicated cop, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi.

On Tuesday, Mnisi wrapped up his three-day testimony before the commission, where he faces allegations of tender manipulation.

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In addition to being CFO, Mnisi was also the chairperson of the Tshwane Municipality’s Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC).

As a member of the BAC, Mnisi declared no conflicts of interest in the three tenders being probed by the Madlanga Commission.

Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson counted at least eight instances where Mnisi’s close relationship with Nkosi may have caused a conflict of interest.

WhatsApp chats before the commission show Nkosi repeatedly lobbied Mnisi to use his position to manipulate certain outcomes in respect to each of the three tenders.

“In hindsight, when we are discussing all of these matters, I need to agree [that] there is a perception of conflict. It is clearly apparent, I can’t avoid it; however, what I am certain on is when I signed this declaration form, from my perspective, my objectivity was not impaired whatsoever.”

Mnisi will return to the commission at a later date for re-examination by his own lawyers.