City of Tshwane speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana has confirmed that his office has received an investigation report into deputy mayor Eugene Modise.
A company founded by Modise, Triotic Protection Services, is reportedly providing guarding services at more than two dozen Tshwane properties, including substations, sports facilities, and water treatment plants.
TimesLIVE has learnt that the internal investigation found Modise continued to benefit financially from the company despite having resigned as its director more than two years ago.
This has led Ndzwanana to seek legal advice instead of tabling the report and its findings before the council.
Ndzwanana said the report, sent to his office from the city’s group audit and risk department, was now under legal review.
“I was advised that the report should be sent for a legal opinion, which I have done. Once I receive this legal opinion, the report will be tabled for the council’s consideration,” he said.
He urged political parties, councillors, and the media to be patient as the process unfolds.
“My office will provide further updates once the council has finalised the matter.”
The awarding of the Triotic Protection Services tender is also being investigated by the public protector.
Last Friday, Modise declined to respond to questions from the Sunday Times, including those about his role in the company, how he may have disposed of his shareholding, and to whom.
“This newspaper is impatient, and what raises eyebrows is that you are aware that the matter is sub judice and the city is busy with the process, and you seem impatient,” Modise said.
Modise, who is also the finance MMC, is expected to reclaim the position of ANC Tshwane chair at a regional elective conference scheduled for later this month.
The contract between the city and Triotic was initially set for three years but was extended on a month-to-month basis after expiring in February this year, pending the conclusion of a new tender process.
Triotic is now in its fourth year of doing business with the city, with its scope of work expanded to cover more sites, thereby increasing its monthly earnings from the municipality.
The DA, other opposition parties, and the auditor-general have raised concerns about the contract, particularly over possible undue financial benefits to Modise.
This prompted Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya to launch an internal investigation earlier this year.
However, DA finance spokesperson Jacqui Uys said she had approached the public protector’s office after expressing frustration with how Moya handled the matter and questioning the legal standing of the mayor’s investigation.
“We approached the public protector because the mayor failed to respond to our inquiries regarding the terms of reference, and we were worried that the mayor wasn’t addressing this matter with the urgency and seriousness it required,” Uys said.
She added that the company registration records listed Modise’s home address, and he had not informed the council whether he had sold or transferred his shareholding.
Since Modise stepped down in February 2023 to become a councillor, a long-standing employee of the company has been serving as its director.
The public protector’s office confirmed that it was investigating the contract after Uys laid a complaint in March.
