By Johnathan Paoli
The City of Tshwane has officially reinstated its Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), Gareth Mnisi, following the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings stemming from allegations of misconduct linked to claims of tender collusion.
In a statement released through the JSE’s Stock Exchange News Service (SENS), the municipality confirmed that Mnisi had officially resumed his duties after accepting a final written warning.
“The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality held a special Council meeting on 9 July 2026 where Council considered the findings contained in the Final Forensic Investigation Report and the independent legal opinion on the alleged misconduct against the City’s Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO),” the statement said.
The municipality, which has debt securities listed on the JSE, is subject to the exchange’s debt-listing disclosure requirements and publishes relevant management developments through SENS.
The municipality said the council carefully considered both the forensic investigation report and an independent legal opinion before deciding how to proceed.
“Council concluded that the allegations were less serious and that the City should institute disciplinary proceedings against the GCFO in terms of Regulation 5(6) of the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers, 2010,” the statement read.
The disciplinary process was concluded on Tuesday, with Mnisi receiving a final written warning.
“The acceptance and signing of the Final Written Warning by the GCFO led to the reinstatement to his position. This means that the GCFO is now officially back in the City,” the statement added.
The announcement formally confirmed Mnisi’s reinstatement after he returned to work on 15 July following the expiry of his three-month precautionary suspension.
Earlier this month, the Tshwane council resolved that the allegations against Mnisi should be classified as “less serious” after considering the forensic investigation’s findings.
That classification meant the most severe sanction available under the less-serious-misconduct procedure was a final written warning rather than dismissal.
However, the decision has not gone unchallenged.
The Democratic Alliance in the Tshwane council has instituted legal proceedings seeking to review and set aside the council’s decision to classify the allegations as less serious, challenging the legality of the voting process through which the resolution was adopted.
Mnisi was initially placed on precautionary suspension after testimony before the Madlanga Commission linked him to allegations of leaking confidential tender information and participating in a scheme to manipulate municipal procurement processes.
At the commission, suspended Organised Crime Sergeant Fannie Nkosi testified about WhatsApp conversations allegedly exchanged with Mnisi relating to active City of Tshwane tenders and lists of prospective bidders.
Following those allegations, the municipality initiated disciplinary proceedings while commissioning an independent forensic investigation into the claims.
The forensic investigation found insufficient evidence that Mnisi had engaged in financial misconduct or improperly manipulated tender outcomes. However, it identified several breaches of municipal rules and recommended disciplinary action against him.
That finding, together with an independent legal opinion, formed the basis upon which the council determined that the alleged misconduct did not warrant a more severe disciplinary outcome.
In written submissions opposing his suspension earlier this year, Mnisi’s legal team rejected allegations that he communicated with external parties about tenders or influenced the municipality’s Bid Adjudication Committee to favour preferred bidders.
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