Suspended TMPD Deputy Chief Claims Shared Tender Document Was Public Information

Suspended TMPD Deputy Chief Umashi Dhlamini tells the Madlanga Commission that the tender document he shared with Sergeant Nkosi was already public knowledge.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 6:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the EWN

Dhlamini Defends Document Sharing as Non-Confidential

During a high-stakes session of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, suspended TMPD Deputy Chief Umashi Dhlamini downplayed allegations of procedural misconduct. The inquiry focused on an incident in March 2026, where Dhlamini forwarded a list of bidders for a security tender to Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, a figure already implicated in the broader "Police Crisis" investigations. Dhlamini maintained that the act did not constitute a breach of confidentiality because the details contained in the document were intended for the public domain.

Technical Difficulties Cited as Reason for Manual Transfer

Explaining the context of the transfer, Dhlamini stated that the tender in question had officially closed on August 12, 2025. He claimed that the list of companies and their respective bids had already been published on the municipal website. According to Dhlamini, his office requested a draft report from Supply Chain Management (SCM) only because the official website was offline at the time. He asserted that the document was merely a tool used to prepare a close-out report and was not a protected internal secret.

Madlanga Questions the 'Draft' Status of the Report

The defense faced immediate scrutiny from Commission Chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga. The Chairperson pointed out that the document was explicitly labeled as a "draft," suggesting it was still undergoing internal review and was not yet authorized for external circulation. Madlanga led a pointed line of questioning, forcing Dhlamini to concede that a draft remains an internal Metro document until it is finalized. The exchange highlighted a potential lapse in protocol, as sharing working documents before they reach "final" status often violates municipal procurement policies.