Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya is under mounting political pressure to act against Deputy Mayor Eugene “Bonzo” Modise after the DA demanded to know why he has not been suspended despite a forensic investigation that flagged a conflict of interest linked to a security company earning R3 million per month from city contracts.
The standoff, which has dragged on for five months since the probe’s findings were handed to the mayor’s office, has become a flashpoint in Tshwane’s fractious coalition politics.
What the forensic investigation found
An internal forensic investigation commissioned by the City of Tshwane found that Triotic Protection Services, a security company founded by Modise, has been receiving approximately R3 million per month for guarding services at more than 20 municipal sites, including sports facilities.
The probe found that Modise failed to provide any sale agreement or proof of payment for the alleged sale of his interest in the company. Investigators also found that he continued to benefit financially from Triotic, as the company rents office space in a building he owns.
The findings pointed to a possible conflict of interest that, critics argue, should have triggered an immediate suspension.
Why the mayor has not acted
Mayor Moya has denied being “scared” to act against Modise, pushing back on suggestions that she is protecting him to avoid destabilising the coalition government.
She told council that the matter had been dealt with by instituting the forensic probe and that further action would follow due process.
The DA’s mayoral candidate for Tshwane, Cilliers Brink, challenged Moya directly during a recent council session, asking why the suspension recommended by investigators had not been carried out.
The DA has publicly called for Modise’s removal, framing the delay as evidence of governance failure.
What the ad hoc committee will do
An ad hoc committee has been established to examine the allegations against Modise and has been given three months to complete its work and report back to the municipal council.
The committee’s mandate includes reviewing the forensic investigation’s findings and making recommendations on whether disciplinary action or removal proceedings should follow.
What happens next
The ad hoc committee’s three-month deadline places the final decision squarely in the lead-up to the 2026 local government election season, raising the political stakes for all parties involved.
The DA is likely to continue using the Modise saga as a campaign issue, while the ANC, which has signalled its intention to contest the Tshwane mayoralty, may seek to capitalise on coalition instability.
Swisher Post has submitted a request for comment to the Mayor’s office and the office of the Deputy Mayor.
