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Deputy Chief of Police at the Tshwane Metro Police Department, Umashi Dhlamini.
The Madlanga Commission has examined text messages between suspended Tshwane Metro Police Deputy Chief, Umashi Dhlamini and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi. Evidence before the Commission suggests that Dhlamini allegedly used Nkosi as an intermediary to communicate with suspended Tshwane CFO, Gareth Mnisi.
It’s further alleged that this channel was used in an attempt to influence tenders in the City of Tshwane.
The Commission has seen messages sent by Dhlamini to Nkosi relating to a list of seven companies. In one message, Dhlamini asked Nkosi to verify with suspended Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gareth Mnisi whom he refers to as “mfowethu” whether companies linked to the “red berets” are the same as those associated with “CIC Juju.”
MADLANGA COMMISSION | Umashi Dhlamini is probed on WhatsApp messages between Sgt Nkosi and CFO (Mnisi), including references to “mfethu” and the exchange confirming, “this is ours, the final list.” pic.twitter.com/5KHxOFHLdv
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 24, 2026
Dhlamini claims he was approached by two men, identified only as Muzi and Sipho, who said they were members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), prompting him to seek confirmation from Mnisi.
But Commissioner Sesi Baloyi put it to Dhlamini that there were in fact two separate lists, and that he was asking Mnisi to compare them.
“You know that the CFO has that list. And what you are doing with your message is saying to Sgt. Nkosi the CFO should compare that list which you know he has from the CIC, compare it with this list that you say was given to you by Muzi and Sipho.”
MADLANGA COMMISSION | Umashi Dhlamini is probed on a message from Sgt Nkosi reading, “General please intervene, we can’t lose this now, we’ve been waiting for a while.” He is asked how the CFO became involved, given the matter was between Nico and Bheki Nkosi. pic.twitter.com/WGRgriEP56
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 24, 2026
The Commission also heard that Nico Mathabela sent a list of seven preferred companies to Victor Kgopa, indicating they should be prioritised for procurement.
Mathabela is not a City of Tshwane employee, while Kgopa works in supply chain management and chairs the bid evaluation committee for the land invasion tender.
The Commission heard that Dhlamini later forwarded the same list to Sergeant Nkosi. Dhlamini told the evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson that he does not know whether Mathabela was attempting to influence the process.
Commissioner Sandile Khumalo put it to Dhlamini that he interfered in the land invasion tender process by sending a list of seven preferred companies for compliance checks.
The list was forwarded to Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, who then passed it on to suspended Tshwane CFO, Gareth Mnisi.
Commissioner Khumalo says this amounted to unlawful interference in the tender process.
“That action on its own is you are interfering in an ongoing tender process. Whether you have an interest or not, whether you followed up or not—by doing that, you are interfering in the tender process. And you are doing so unlawfully.”
Allegations of tender manipulation have been levelled against Nkosi, Dhlamini and Mnisi. Another message shows Dhlamini asking Nkosi to “push” his brother, Bheki, to submit various documents. When questioned by evidence leader Chaskalson, Dhlamini said he was assisting Nkosi and his brother with a tender in what he referred to as the “Matthew Phosa Municipality.”
Dhlamini is expected to return to the stand on Tuesday.
VIDEO | Madlanga Commission | Suspended TMPD Deputy Chief denies tender rigging allegations
