Low Ranking Tshwane Metro Police Officer Accused of Illegally Awarding Multi Million Rand Security Contracts

Inspector Lebogang Phiri allegedly cost Tshwane millions by illegally awarding security sites. Get the latest from the Madlanga Commission inquiry.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 10:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Madlanga Commission Testimony

Unauthorized Procurement Authority Within the TMPD

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has uncovered a significant breach of administrative protocol within the Tshwane Metro Police Department involving the unauthorized allocation of municipal contracts. Testimony presented by TMPD Deputy Chief Sean Bolhuis detailed how a junior officer, Inspector Lebogang Phiri, allegedly assumed powers far beyond his legal standing. According to Bolhuis, Phiri bypassed the established chain of command to grant security work to specific private firms, a move that has sparked a broader investigation into the department's internal controls and the potential for deep rooted administrative malpractice.

Financial Fallout of Improper Site Allocations

The scale of the alleged misconduct involves the allocation of 40 distinct security sites to a single entity, Gubis 85 Solutions. These sites are typically managed by the Asset Protection, Security and Services Unit, which is responsible for safeguarding the municipality’s critical infrastructure. Bolhuis, who managed this unit as a caretaker between July 2024 and February 2025, testified that the financial implications for the City of Tshwane are severe, with losses estimated in the millions of rands. The unauthorized outsourcing diverted public funds to preferred service providers without the mandatory oversight or competitive bidding processes required by law.

Bypassing the Caretaker Leadership Chain

During his testimony, Deputy Chief Bolhuis explicitly denied ever granting Inspector Phiri the delegated authority to manage these contracts. He stated that as the caretaker head of the unit, he did not issue instructions or permission for Phiri to engage with Gubis 85 Solutions. Bolhuis emphasized that under no circumstances did the inspector possess the institutional power to award such lucrative work. The revelations suggest a total breakdown in communication or a deliberate subversion of the deputy chief’s office during a critical period of departmental transition.