Suspended Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi Denies Manipulating Municipal Tenders During Madlanga Commission Testimony

Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi tells the Madlanga Commission he did not manipulate tenders, claiming his role was limited to regulatory oversight and assurance.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 9:23 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EWN

Formal Denial of Administrative Misconduct

The suspended Chief Financial Officer of the City of Tshwane, Gareth Mnisi, has officially addressed allegations concerning the manipulation of municipal procurement processes. During a high profile appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Friday, Mnisi denied using his executive authority to steer lucrative contracts toward specific bidders. Currently under precautionary suspension, the CFO maintained that his actions within the metro’s financial structures were consistent with established legal frameworks and internal municipal regulations.

Operational Role of the Bid Adjudication Committee

A central point of the inquiry involves Mnisi’s dual role as both the CFO and the chairperson of the city's Bid Adjudication Committee. This body holds the critical responsibility of evaluating and finalising which private entities are awarded municipal tenders. While critics and investigators have suggested that this position provided Mnisi with undue influence over the selection process, he testified that the committee operates through a collective decision making model. The committee is comprised of seven senior managers, a structure Mnisi claims prevents any single individual from unilaterally determining the outcome of a bid.

Distinguishing Between Oversight and Influence

During his testimony, Mnisi provided a detailed defense of his conduct by distinguishing between administrative influence and regulatory oversight. He argued that his primary function was to ensure that all proceedings remained in strict compliance with relevant laws and municipal prescripts. According to Mnisi, the process of scrutinizing documentation and applying legal rules should be viewed as a validation mechanism rather than an attempt to bias the results. He insisted that his involvement provided an essential layer of assurance that key compliance protocols were followed before a tender reached its final stage.