TMPD cop absconded after alleged unauthorised approval of private security tender

A City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality employee has absconded after it emerged that he cost the metro millions by allegedly approving the deployment of private security guards without authority.

This was revealed on Tuesday during the testimony of Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD)’s Deputy Chief, Revo Spies, at the Madlanga Commission.

ALSO READ: Spies details how security company received R59 million from TMPD

Spies, who is stationed at the asset protection and security division, has blown the lid on how a few politically connected security companies unjustifiably benefitted from a security tender.

In March 2022, the Tshwane Municipality awarded a tender to 22 security companies for the guarding of its critical infrastructure.

The tender also incorporated an ad-hoc service, where the municipality would call on these companies during times of emergencies and they would invoice it accordingly.

Spies said he ordered that all ad-hoc services be stopped when he realised that they were being abused.

However, Spies said that despite his order, a company by the name of Gubis 85 Solutions continued invoicing the municipality for millions for ad-hoc services.

On further investigation, Spies said he found that a low-level metro officer, Inspector Lebogang Phiri, was approving the ad-hoc services for Gubis 85 Solutions.

“Since Friday, we have been trying to get hold of him. He was given instructions to report Monday morning at 10 o’clock at the office. He has failed to do, so disciplinary steps and consequence management is being introduced again for that. So, we are trying to get hold of him.”

The commission resumes on 7 April.