In November 2024, I wrote to the city manager raising alarm on a company named Triotic Protection Services, a company started by the Deputy Executive Mayor and MMC of Finance, Eugene Modise, and a service provider benefitting from the city of Tshwane’s R300 million a year security tender.
The DA has subsequently learned that the registered company address of Triotic Protection Services, a company tied to Tshwane’s Deputy Executive Mayor and MMC of Finance, Eugene Modise, is a property belonging to his mother, Nelly Modise. Furthermore, it has come to light that Neo Mafodi, the company’s HR Manager turned director, is allegedly the mother of Modise’s child. This revelation raises serious questions about possible conflicts of interest and financial dealings within the City of Tshwane.
Further reason for concern and my motivation for writing was; it came to my attention that in 2023 Triotic Protection Services had a judgement against them for non-payment of R59 million of taxes toward the South African Revenue Service (SARS) over the course of 5 years. This raised concerns that Triotic Protection Services might not have had a tax clearance when submitting their bid and, therefore, would not have qualified to be awarded the tender.
Combined with the fact that the city’s security tender was highlighted by the Auditor-General as a limitation, since all bid documents were not submitted for auditing, meant that they could not confirm if the winning bidders complied with bid requirements and he named Triotic Protection Services explicitly, setting off alarm bells.
At the time, it was unclear whether Modise still benefited from the City of Tshwane payments towards Triotic Protection Services. What was known was that Triotic Protection Services was started as a CC by Eugene Thipe Modise with a 50% ownership. The company was later converted into a PTY(Ltd) with Modise as director. Modise remained director until 1 March 2023, just after he became an ANC councillor, when he resigned as director and the company’s HR Manager, Neo Mafodi, was appointed as director. However, the company adress remained unchanged, and as per their website, the Head Office is 155 Dumburton Street Arcadia, a property still owned by Modise.
The DA in the City of Tshwane demands, in the best interest of the citizens of Tshwane, a forensic investigation into Tender TMPD 02-2016/2017, which appointed the panel of security services to the city. And that this investigation is fast tracked to be presented to the city’s Municipal Accounts Committee, and ultimately the City’s Council, to determine if this tender was awarded fairly to Triotic Protection Services and if the Deputy Executive Mayor is benefitting financially from this tender.