Director responsible for Asset Protection Services at the City of Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), Tshukudu Malatji.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
A week of explosive testimony at the Madlanga Commission has laid bare a police department at war with itself, as senior officials from the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) traded blame, denied wrongdoing, and exposed a fractured system riddled with alleged corruption, tender manipulation, and internal collapse.
Four of six key witnesses took the stand before proceedings adjourned for the week, sketching a troubling picture of a municipality where oversight failed, controls were bypassed, and millions of rand may have been siphoned off through irregular contracts.
At the center is a web of accusations implicating both senior leadership and rank-and-file officers.
Testimony revealed how an inspector allegedly operated with near impunity, steering lucrative municipal contracts to private companies without authorisation, while senior officials either failed to act or looked the other way.
TMPD chief, Commissioner Yolande Faro, struck a tone of urgency, telling the commission she was in “shock and dismay” at the scale of alleged financial misconduct.
But she also signalled a shift from passive acknowledgement to action.
“I don’t want this to be a talk show,” Faro said. “I will report on the progress we make, even beyond this process.”
The deputy, Sean Bolhuis, painted a damning picture of systemic failure, describing how basic vetting processes were ignored, enabling questionable contracts to slip through unchecked.
He distanced himself from the alleged misconduct, insisting he neither authorised nor endorsed the awarding of contracts linked to the accused officer.
“As the caretaker, I never allocated these sites… nor did I give him permission or delegated authority,” Bolhuis testified.
Yet the commission also heard admissions that cut deeper.
Director of Assets Tshukudu Malatji conceded that he defied explicit instructions to terminate irregular contracts, decisions that allegedly cost the City of Tshwane at least R14 million in unlawful expenditure.
Meanwhile, divisional deputy chief Umashi Dhlamini rejected allegations that he influenced tenders or received bribes.
Instead, he characterised his relationship with one of the central figures, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, as personal rather than professional, rooted in mentorship and family ties, not corruption.
“Our relationship has grown… I regard him as a family friend,” Dhlamini said, describing his role in Nkosi’s lobola negotiations.
Adding to the intrigue are looming testimonies set for next week.
Tshwane’s Chief Financial Officer Gareth Mnisi and inspector Lebogang Phiri, both accused of serious procurement violations, are expected to face tough questioning.
The commission has already heard claims linking Mnisi and Nkosi to a dubious attempt to secure a contract in a non-existent municipality in Mpumalanga.
The commission will resume its hearings on Tuesday.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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