Overview
- Suspended TMPD deputy chief Umashi Dhlamini, who returned to the stand Friday, denied any personal gain as commissioners pressed him on his role in an alleged R800 million security contract.
- Dhlamini said he asked Sgt Fannie Nkosi to check a bidder list with CFO Gareth Mnisi because they were close, but Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga challenged why he did not call the CFO directly using the city’s contact list.
- He testified that consultant Nico Mathobela told him Ngaphesheya Security Services and El Shaddai Security Services were positioned for a land tender, and evidence also showed Mathobela sent seven preferred firms to bid chair Victor Kgopa.
- Dhlamini forwarded another list he said came from two men claiming it was compiled by the EFF, which the commission later found was not from the party, deepening scepticism about political influence claims.
- He confirmed his brothers work in the taxi industry and knew the late taxi boss Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi from childhood, and he told the panel purchase orders are issued before work, which clashes with suspended CFO Mnisi’s earlier account as the inquiry weighs WhatsApp logs and R2.9 billion paid to 22 firms.