In a dramatic turn of events at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Tshwane’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, has been placed on special leave following serious allegations of tender interference. Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya announced the suspension on Thursday, a move that has been swiftly and publicly welcomed by Morodi’s own party, ActionSA.
The suspension stems from explosive testimony given before the commission by Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, a Gauteng police officer currently in the witness hot seat. Evidence presented suggests that Morodi shared sensitive internal tender documents with Nkosi, raising alarm bells over potential corruption and the manipulation of municipal procurement processes.
The Allegations: WhatsApp Chats and Leaked Documents
According to testimony and evidence led at the commission, the interaction between Morodi and Nkosi came under scrutiny following the analysis of WhatsApp messages . The commission heard that on December 2, 2024, Nkosi contacted Morodi regarding a visit to an address in Theresa Park, ostensibly to address young women at an orphanage. Morodi later thanked Nkosi for making her birthday special .
However, it was the communication immediately following these pleasantries that caught the commission’s attention. It is alleged that Morodi subsequently sent Nkosi a document pertaining to a land lease tender . While Nkosi testified that the tender bid had already closed by the time he received the document, the act of an MMC sharing internal bid specifications with a private individual—let alone a police sergeant implicated in other criminal activities—has been described by legal experts as a serious breach of protocol .
The allegations do not stop with Morodi. The commission is also investigating a wider web of influence peddling surrounding a lucrative Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) security tender. Evidence suggests that a list of seven “preferred companies” was allegedly compiled and discussions were held involving members of both ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) .
Mayor Moya: “Protecting the Integrity of the Institution”
Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya acted swiftly, using her authority in terms of Section 60 of the Municipal Structures Act to place Morodi on special leave with immediate effect . In a statement, Moya emphasized that the decision was not a finding of guilt, but a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the city’s governance.
“The City regards matters of this nature with the utmost seriousness, as they speak to the principles of transparency, accountability, and ethical governance expected of all public office bearers,” Moya said .
She confirmed that a preliminary investigation would be conducted to determine if a prima facie case exists . To ensure continuity and avoid any perception of interference, MMC Hannes Coetzee has been appointed to manage the Corporate and Shared Services portfolio in the interim . Furthermore, Moya has committed to writing to the commission’s secretary, Dr. Nolitha Vukuza, to formally request all evidence related to the allegations to aid the city’s internal probe .
“This measure does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing, nor does it imply any presumption of guilt,” Moya stressed. “It reflects a principled commitment to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that all allegations are subjected to appropriate scrutiny” .
ActionSA: “We Will Always Run Towards Accountability”
In a political landscape often characterized by parties circling the wagons to protect their own, ActionSA’s response has been notably different. National Chairperson Michael Beaumont released a statement fully endorsing the mayor’s decision and announcing a parallel internal party investigation .
“ActionSA welcomes the decisive action taken by Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya,” Beaumont stated. “South Africans are all too familiar with political parties that are slow to act against allegations of impropriety or simply sweep them aside. ActionSA will never adopt that approach” .
Beaumont stressed the party’s “zero tolerance for corruption and unethical conduct,” pledging to support all efforts to uncover the full facts . However, the party also struck a note of caution, warning against taking the allegations at “face value,” given that they arise from testimony given by a “criminally implicated” witness like Sergeant Nkosi .
“It must be made clear that ActionSA will always run towards accountability, not away from it,” Beaumont added .
Political Fallout and Calls for Further Action
The scandal has reignited debates about governance in the coalition-run Tshwane metro. Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader and former mayor Cilliers Brink has called for an independent probe, suggesting that the infighting over the position of City CFO Gareth Mnisi—who is also implicated in the commission’s testimony—is fundamentally about “tenders and control of resources” .
Brink has demanded that Mnisi be summoned to testify under oath and that City Manager Johann Mettler initiate a full-scale investigation into the security tender and any political interference surrounding it .
As the Madlanga Commission continues its proceedings, the suspension of Kholofelo Morodi serves as a critical test case for how swiftly and transparently coalition governments can act when their own members are implicated in wrongdoing. For now, both the City of Tshwane and ActionSA have staked their claim on a promise of accountability, with all eyes on the outcome of the investigations to come.
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