Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya is sitting on an explosive report that confirms allegations that her Deputy Mayor and Finance MMC, Eugene Modise benefits from a multi-million contract with the municipality.
Yesterday the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane had sight of an investigative report by the City of Tshwane which confirms that:
- At the time he was elected a councillor in February 2023, Modise failed to disclose his interests in Triotic Protection Services. The company has a multi-million contract to provide the City with watchman security services.
- Modise continues to benefit from this contract. He has told investigators that he sold his shares by means of an instalment sale agreement, but this still constitutes a financial interest in the company. He could also not produce a copy of the supposed sale agreement.
- Together with the non-disclosure, Modise’s failure to divest his interests in Triotic constitutes a material breach of the Code of Conduct for councillors.
In terms of the Code of Conduct for Councillors in the Municipal Systems Act, councillors cannot benefit from contracts with the municipality. If this rule is important for councillors, it is essential for a Finance MMC, the councillor with executive responsibility for the supply chain management division of the municipality.
What aggravates Modise’s conduct is that he seems to have lied about the situation – not only investigators, but journalists too. EWN has broadcast an interview with Modise where he claims to have cleared by an investigation of the Public Protector, which the self-same office has refuted.
Earlier this year the municipality extended the contracts of Triotic and other security companies without following a competitive bidding process. This resulted in R170 million irregular expenditure. Another of Modise’s companies leases a property on which Tshwane is owed R23 million in arrear municipal debt, but the services to the property have not been cut by the city. The irony is that Modise has often joins Tshwane ya Tima cutoff campaigns and warns defaulting municipal consumers to pay their bills.
Mayor Moya, representing ActionSA, is the junior partner in her own coalition with the ANC and thee EFF. And she seems unwilling to act against Modise, the ANC leader in the council.
By keeping Modise on as Finance MMC, Moya is jeopardising Tshwane’s finances and the integrity of her own administration.
The DA has filed a motion of no confidence in Modise as deputy mayor, a move that will also compel Moya to decide about Modise’s role as Finance MMC.