In today’s Tshwane Council meeting, the ANC, ActionSA and the EFF voted against a Democratic Alliance (DA) sponsored motion calling for an urgent, independent investigation into serious allegations raised at the Madlanga Commission.
The motion sought to investigate senior City officials, Members of the Mayoral Committee and political parties in Council who have been implicated in testimony before the Commission.
These allegations go far beyond the City’s CFO, Gareth Mnisi. Testimony before the Commission has raised serious claims that political parties in the governing coalition, as well as national political leaders, may have interfered in tender processes.
Council previously acted on WhatsApp messages that allegedly showed improper communication involving Sergeant Fani Nkosi and CFO Gareth Mnisi.
It cannot now turn a blind eye to sworn testimony simply because members of the governing coalition stand accused. These include allegations of political interference in tenders, the bypassing of supply-chain controls, and breakdowns within the Mayoral Committee portfolio of Alderman Hannes Coetzee.
There are further allegations of unauthorised expenditure on ad hoc watchman services, and meetings between coalition politicians and Mnisi to determine who would benefit from City contracts.
By voting against this investigation, the ANC, ActionSA and the EFF have made their position clear: they are not interested in uncovering the truth. They are interested in protecting the coalition of corruption.
Many of the matters relating to Tshwane have not yet been fully investigated, and the Madlanga Commission is still in session. The residents of Tshwane deserve to know whether City contracts were manipulated for political benefit while service delivery collapses around them.
The DA will continue to fight for accountability, transparency and consequence management in South Africa’s Capital City.