By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
City of Tshwane Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gareth Mnisi has been reinstated after three month precautionary suspension stemming from tender collusion claims.
The suspension was to allow for a forensic investigation into complaints following his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System.
On Wednesday, the metro announced at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) that Mnisi is now back at work.
The municipality has debt securities listed on the JSE and is required by law to update it on any changes to its senior management.
“The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality held a special Council meeting on 9 July 2026 where Council considered the findings contained in the Final Forensic Investigation Report and the independent legal opinion on the alleged misconduct against the City’s Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO),” the statement said.
“Council concluded that allegations were less serious and that the City should institute disciplinary proceedings against the GCFO in terms of Regulation 5(6) of the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers, 2010.”
The disciplinary process was concluded on Tuesday, with Mnisi receiving a final written warning.
“The acceptance and signing of the Final Written Warning by the GCFO led to the reinstatement to his position. This means that the GCFO is now officially back in the City,” the statement added.
The announcement formally confirmed Mnisi’s reinstatement after he returned to work on 15 July following the expiry of his precautionary suspension.
The final forensic investigation report made findings against Mnisi, including that he failed to declare his directorships in companies and did not disclose his relationship with a construction company involved in two municipal tenders.
It stopped short of finding him guilty of impropriety, but recommended disciplinary action against him.
In a chaotic and controversial special council meeting on 9 July, the council decided that the charges were less serious and warranted only the informal process that does not require a formal charge sheet or hearing, with a written warning that lapses within six months as the strongest available sanction.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) launched an urgent application to interdict decisions taken at the council meeting after the speaker – Mncedi Ndzwanana of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) – deducted 13 votes.
These votes were purportedly linked to DA and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) members who earlier requested leave but nevertheless attended the meeting and voted.