Embattled Tshwane CFO 'afforded' 7 more days to explain why he shouldn't be suspended

Gareth Mnisi, the Tshwane Municipality’s embattled Chief Financial Officer, has been “afforded” another seven days to make written submissions on why he should not be suspended from his job.

Mnisi has been implicated in the Madlanga Commission as being part of a network of senior officials within the metro that participated in rigging tenders and ensured they were awarded to their preferred bidders.

This was revealed during the testimony of controversial cop, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, whose WhatsApp chats were subpoenaed by the commission.

The chats showed Nkosi and Mnisi repeatedly colluding about tenders in the city and invoice disputes.

ALSO READ: Spotlight on Tshwane’s embattled Chief Financial Officer, Gareth Mnisi | Cleared by report, yet Madlanga Commission fallout lingers

At the time, Mnisi was also chairperson of the city’s Bid Adjucation Committee (BAC), which played a key role in deciding which company should be awarded tenders.

While Mnisi has not been physically at work for a couple of weeks now, he has not been formally suspended.

WEDNESDAY CLOSED-DOOR COUNCIL MEETING

On Wednesday, the Tshwane council met for an extraordinary in-committee (private) meeting.

There was one item on the agenda: the tabling of a confidential report to consider the next steps regarding Mnisi’s suspension.

On 26 March 2026, the council voted on a resolution to serve Mnisi with a notice to place him on precautionary suspension, subject to affording him an opportunity to make representations.

Mnisi was given seven days to make written submissions on why he should not be suspended.

MNISI FIGHTS BACK

On 1 April 2026, Mnisi’s lawyers wrote back to the City Manager raising several procedural issues.

“You provide no details whether the council even considered whether our client's presence at the workplace will jeopardise any investigation, endanger the well-being or safety of the municipality or be detrimental to its stability,” the letter from Mathopo Attorneys reads.

According to the letter, the municipality has incorrectly applied Regulation 6 of the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers, 2010, which the municipality is relying on to discipline Mnisi.

It says Regulation 6 must be triggered by “the existence of allegations of misconduct” for the municipality to consider a precautionary suspension.

“The notice does not contain or set out at all the nature of the alleged misconduct our client is alleged to have committed, nor does it provide the details of the allegations made against our client,” the letter states.

“The Notice dated 28th March 2026 (council meeting was on 26th March but notice was served to Mnisi on 28th March) fails to set out at all what the 'serious allegations' made against our client were during the testimony of Sergeant Fannie Nkosi at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. In other words, it fails to set out any alleged misconduct on the part of our client.”

The letter states Mnisi cannot “speculate” what the allegations against him are and, subsequently, cannot file written submissions on why he should not be suspended based on allegations that have not been adequately laid out.

Mnisi’s lawyers demand that the notice served to him be formally “withdrawn” by the council.

CITY MANAGER RESPONDS TO MNISI'S LAWYERS

A legal opinion penned on 3 April 2026 by the Advocate Nadine Erasmus, the head of legal for the City of Tshwane Municipality, disagrees with the assessments by Mnisi’s lawyers.

Erasmus said the notice served to Mnisi is fully compliant with the municipality’s labour practices.

“A notice of precautionary suspension should contain enough detail to justify the suspension without acting as a final disciplinary charge sheet,” she writes.

“It must clearly outline the alleged misconduct, the reasons for removing the employee from the workplace, the fact that it is on full pay, and the expected duration of the suspension.”

On 4 April 2026, Johan Mettler, the City of Tshwane Municipality manager, wrote back to Mnisi’s lawyers, noting he had decided against making written submissions on why he should not be suspended.

Mettler said Mnisi will be “afforded” another seven days to make these written submissions, with the deadline being 11 April 2026 at 4pm.

The letter also sets out the allegations against Mnisi that he is currently being investigated for.

It says Mnisi is being investigated for alleged tender rigging of a security contract, which was exposed at the Madlanga Commission:

• - Communication occurred between external parties and city officials regarding tenders under consideration. The officials of the city named in the Commission include Mr Mnisi.

• - Information relating to preferred bidders was transmitted through intermediaries. The information was transmitted by, inter alia, Mr Mnisi.
• - Certain bidders identified in such communication were subsequently awarded contracts, this during the period in which Mr Mnisi was the chairperson of the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC).

In the letter, Mettler says the allegations against Mnisi have caused reputational damage to the City of Tshwane Municipality and placed the integrity of its procurement processes in question.

He says it's imperative that Mnisi is not allowed to return to work, as he might jeopardise the investigation against him, and there’s a possibility he could interfere with the evidence.

“The nature of the allegations under investigation is of a very serious nature, and should Mr Mnisi resume his duties, he will once again be in charge of the BAC process, and a real threat exists that further irregularities in tender processes may occur. This will be to the detriment of the stability of the City,” Mettler writes.

READ MORE:

Tshwane council meets to consider CFO Mnisi’s possible suspension

Tshwane CFO given 7 days to explain why he shouldn’t be suspended

Mettler says Mnisi’s return to work will be detrimental to investor confidence and the metro’s investment ratings.

Mettler ends by saying the city will not be withdrawing its notice to Mnisi, and he has until 11 April 2026 to submit written reasons why he should not be placed on a paid precautionary suspension.

On Wednesday, the Tshwane council “condoned” the new deadline.

MNISI'S MADLANGA COMMISSION APPEARANCE

The highly anticipated testimony of Mnisi has been set down for 17 April 2026 at the Madlanga Commission.

Mnisi made a brief appearance at the commission on Thursday, where evidence leader, Teboho Mosikili, announced that an agreement had been reached with his legal team for his hearing date.

“There was a bit of a misunderstanding (with) Mr Mnisi here today, but he is not meant to testify today. We have agreed on the next day that will be practical for all concerned. The date is the 17th of April. 

“We will exchange the bundles, and he will receive all the necessary bundles by no later than close of business tomorrow [Friday].”