Gareth Mnisi testifies before the Madlanga Commission. (Photo: Screengrab)
Gareth Mnisi, Tshwane’s now suspended chief financial officer, admits that he told Sgt. Fannie Nkosi, alleged right hand of Lt. Gen. Shadrack Sibiya, the suspended deputy national police commissioner, knows.
He knows him very well.
“I consider Fannie Nkosi to be a good personal friend of mine,” Mnisi said on Friday morning when it was his turn to testify before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
However, he has never met the controversial tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala or the controversial taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni. He also has no connection or links with any of the security companies involved in tender fraud in Tshwane.
Mnisi was provisionally suspended a few days ago pending an investigation after he was implicated at the Madlanga Commission regarding alleged manipulation of tenders in Tshwane. He admitted from the witness stand on Friday that he sometimes talked to his friend Nkosi about work. However, according to him, he never shared any sensitive information with Nkosi and they had no common business interests whatsoever.
Mnisi did explain that his friendship with Nkosi developed over a period of time.
“We socialized regularly. We also share a common interest in certain hobbies such as motorcycles, shooting and an appreciation for good food,” he explained to the commission on Friday morning.
“I met him during a very emotional and turbulent time in my life, a deeply emotional and bitter divorce,” Mnisi revealed, explaining that Nkosi is a good listener and that he often asked him for advice.
“Chairman, I felt that I could trust him and he would not betray my trust.
“He was someone who cared. Looking back, I can say that I consider him a brother. He was always there for me. Friendly. Protective and shared words of comfort when needed.”
Ser. Fannie Nkosi (Photo: @sgtfannienkosi / X)
The commission then wanted to know from Mnisi whether he had ever discussed any matters concerning the City of Tshwane, including the Tshwane Metro Police, with Nkosi.
“We occasionally shared work-related frustrations and challenges,” Mnisi admitted. “But I believe it is natural for friends to discuss these kinds of issues. Nothing sensitive – of any kind or form – was discussed.”
“Have you received any payment or benefits from Nkosi or a third party through Nkosi, either directly or indirectly?” the commission then wanted to know from him.
He did not, Mnisi assured.
“However, I would like to mention that on a few occasions Sgt. Nkosi accompanied me to meetings or gatherings in cases where I felt unsafe and vulnerable, simply as a friend. I never saw or understood that he accompanied me as a benefit of any kind to any of us.
“There was no quid pro quo involved.”
Mnisi does not assist any bidders
Mnisi also maintains that he has never had any association or ties with implied security companies such as Triotic Protection Services, El Shaddai Security Services, Gubis85 Solutions or Ngamhudu Construction and Projects.
“I have no interest or connection with any of the shareholders or directors or representatives of these entities.
“I know that Nkosi’s brother is a director of Ngambhuduwa,” said Mnisi. “But I never had any interest or connection, personally, business-wise or financially, with him or his company.”
According to him, Mnisi also does not have any links with Triotic Protection Services.
“I do know that Triotic Protection Services was previously associated with deputy mayor Eugene Modise. As I understand, he was at one stage a director of the entity and has since resigned from that position,” Mnisi told the commission.
Eugene Modise, Deputy Mayor of Tshwane. (Photo: X)
According to Mnisi, he also does not have any connection or interest with any of the bidders who received the tender award called SS01 2023-’24 – for the provision of garbage disposal and water tanker services in Tshwane.
“I did not assist any bidder in relation to the above bid, either directly or indirectly. I would like to put it on record that Sergeant Fannie Nkosi kept sending me the names of two prospective bidders who were later awarded the bid.
“He mistakenly thought I could check compliance, which of course I couldn’t.”
The commission wanted to know why he requested Nkosi’s brother’s supply number at one stage.
“What was the purpose of your requesting a provider or service provider’s provider number from Nkosi on 25 November 2025, as evidenced by your WhatsApp communication on that date?” asked the commission.
Mnisi ‘just helps’ Nkosi’s brother
“Nkosi informed me at one stage that his brother’s company was finding it difficult to navigate within the City of Tshwane’s procurement environment,” explained Mnisi.
“He indicated that, even though his brother’s company was registered as a supplier on the city’s supplier database and assigned a supplier number, for one reason or another he rarely received communications of a procurement nature; bulletins and requests for quotations from the city as he had received in the past.
“At this time, the city was digitizing its supply chain function, which created many problems. The metro received many complaints at that stage.
Tshwane House in Pretoria. (Photo: Mariska Nanni/Maroela Media)
“My request was simply to establish whether his brother’s supplier number had been correctly migrated and captured accordingly on the city’s new network – SAP Ariba.”
Many other suppliers also complained at that stage, Mnisi argued.
“I had no problem helping as I assisted several other providers.”
Everyone helped with the new procurement platform, Mnisi explained. “Simply put, we rolled up our sleeves and helped in whatever way we could to ensure we digitized the supply chain system.”
Mnisi’s testimony continues.
Certain parts of Mnisi’s testimony will possibly be heard behind closed doors (in camera) due to its sensitive nature.