Suspended Tshwane Metro Police Department deputy chief Umashi Dhlamini has defended his decision to share a tender-related document with Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, insisting it was not confidential and was already publicly available.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission, Dhlamini said the document in question, linked to a security tender for critical municipal infrastructure, had been uploaded to the City of Tshwane’s website and therefore did not constitute sensitive information.
The issue forms part of a broader investigation into alleged irregularities in the city’s procurement processes, including claims that a R2.9 billion tender was manipulated.
During proceedings, it was revealed that Nkosi had requested the document, which included details of bidders and pricing. Dhlamini said his office initially attempted to retrieve it from the website, but due to technical issues, sourced it from supply chain officials instead.
He maintained that the document shared was a standard report and not a confidential Bid Evaluation Committee submission.
However, evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson disputed this, stating that the version shared appeared to be a draft prepared for the committee rather than publicly accessible information.
The commission also examined how Nkosi later shared the document with a third party, who allegedly called for the tender process to be halted. The tender was subsequently cancelled, raising further questions about the handling of the process.
Dhlamini denied that Nkosi received preferential treatment, but conceded that involving him in municipal matters, including communication between himself and suspended CFO Gareth Mnisi, was not appropriate.
He told the commission that Nkosi had effectively acted as an intermediary between himself and Mnisi during discussions about unpaid service provider invoices, a situation he acknowledged should not have occurred.
The inquiry continues as the commission probes the role of officials and external parties in Tshwane’s procurement processes.
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