Chief of Police

Emails discuss a budget and fund transfer for watchman services involving a complaint lodged with the office of the CFO and executive meetings with senior city officials including the Chief of Police, COO, and CFO.

“a budget and fund transfer for Watchmen Services 91 million... based on these emails that at some point after a complaint was lodged with the office of the CFO, there were executive meetings arranged and held. These executive meetings included office of the Chief of Police, the COO, the CFO, and others...”

Director Malatji was not involved in the executive meetings regarding payment of invoices, and there appears to be an attempt by others to blame him for payments made to ad hoc service providers, although evidence shows he was not responsible for allocation or deployment of these services.

“I was not involved to participate... it looks like... everybody wants to pass the buck... to Director Malatji... through this process until today... people have created a narrative that Director Malatji is responsible for whatever amount of money that has been paid to these ad hoc service providers... but they knew before time... explanation and records show Director Malatji was not responsible or did not instruct allocation of those sites... deployment of those service providers... but they chose to come and testified the way they have testified...”

Requests for ad hoc watchman services were supported by the CFO and approved by the City Manager, implying procedural approval for deployment and payment of such services.

“I have annexed proof of requests by the Chief of Police, in respect of which requests, she was supported by the CFO, and the City Manager approved... if indeed these ad hoc services were irregular, why would they go as far as requesting money to pay for something that they know upfront is irregular?”

An email from Sean Bolhuis dated 29 May 2025 requests additional funding specifically for ad hoc services, addressed to COO, CFO, and Chief of Police.

“this is an email from Sean Bolhuis. Last time you said your report to him. And the message, the email is to COO, CFO, amongst others, Chief of Police. The date is 29 May 2025, 02:13 pm. And what we see there is, I think as you said, it is part of some sort of effort to request funding or additional funding, and specifically for ad hoc services.”

Payments for these services were made after executive decisions, supported by the Chief of Police, CFO, and City Manager, were taken to allocate funds into the Watchman vote account for such payments.

“already the executive ... the Chief of Police ... has requested for the 91 million, the CFO supported and the City Manager approved. So, the money got into my vote in order to ... the process.”

Director Malatji became aware after the decision not to follow an instruction from the Chief of Police to stop adhoc services due to budget and money issues.

“Did you become aware that in fact there was an instruction from the Chief of Police that these services must stop... after the communication? Yes.”

Other authorities including Chief of Police, Mr Bolhuis and Deputy Commissioner Spies, are seen as washing their hands of responsibility, leaving Director Malatji to face the burden of 82 million rand liability alone, despite their authority to issue cancellation instructions.

“Their responsibility was to give an instruction... They even had more power than Director Malatji... They want to paint Director Malatji black as if he had a benefit to derive from these transactions... They are washing their hands...”

Deputy Chief Dhlamini explained to the entities that the established payment process must be followed and that he only intervenes if he receives instruction from the Chief of Police that companies were not paid appropriately.

“I explained that the process to them of future invoices, how they should be followed... If I get a request from the Chief of Police to say these companies were not paid to intervene, I will intervene like any other companies I intervene on.”

Mr Mnisi did not have the contact details of Deputy Chief Dhlamini because he normally engages the Chief of Police and there is no central directory of senior executives with their cellphone numbers at Tshwane.

“I did not have his contact details at this point, Chair, this is why I did not deal with him directly. ... No. Normally I engage the Chief of Police. ... That give cell phone numbers, no.”

The Chief of Police is responsible for providing TMPD individuals to the Bid Evaluation Committee to avoid hand-picking individuals favorable to anyone.

“The Chief of Police will be responsible for providing individuals who are from TMPD to certain , on BEC . If it is Human Settlements who is involved as well , group Human Settlements department must second individuals who will serve in BEC as well .”

The escalation emails were copied to the City Manager, Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Police, and other senior colleagues, indicating senior leadership awareness of the payment issue.

“The City Manager is cc'd on this communication from the escalation from Gubis 85 Solutions. The Chief Operating Officer is cc'd. The Chief of Police is cc'd and all other colleagues who are within the City.”

Mr Mnisi's security detail informed him that the brigadier in charge was the individual responsible for his security detail under the City of Tshwane safety structure, delegated by the Chief of Police.

“... my security detail would inform me that the Brigadier in charge would be this individual ... the Chief boss is the Chief of Police.”

Mr Mnisi explained that his role in the appointment of VC members and BEC compliance assessment is functional and based on department representation rather than personal knowledge of members' identities.

“I deal with hundreds of emails ... I check functions ... Once I receive confirmation the Chief of Police or a delegate have designated individuals, I am comfortable.”

Madam Linda Gxasheka preferred a certain candidate during a recruitment and promotion process for police positions, which was disputed.

“Madam Linda Gxasheka has mentioned that they had separate discussions, that she preferred a certain candidate.”

The group within the community who joined CLU police officers were not employed by the city and operated operationally, directly reporting to the Chief of Police.

“‘This group that I am talking to in this letter, CLU membership has got community leaders that are CLU members, CLU community liaising officers or unit, they are metro police officers... There was this group that joined them in doing operational work. I am talking about that group that is not employed by the city.’”

The group that joined CLUs was mainly to protect the Chief of Police, starting with the previous chief.

“‘It started with the previous chief. It is a certain group within communities who joined CLU police officers, yes. And their job mainly was to protect the chief.’”

When Chief of Police took over with Deputy Chief Mzolo and Commissioner Mkhwanazi, the unit was disbanded.

“When Chief of Police took over with Deputy Chief Mzolo and I, then it was disbanded”

There is no document that allows members to work outside the jurisdiction of the City, it was made by the Chief of Police.

“there is no document that allows us to work outside the jurisdiction of the City. It was made by the Chief of Police”

Deputy Chief Dhlamini describes the contract management process under his division, including project management, contract management support, ensuring bid specifications, and involvement in the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC).

“Under the Finance section has got the project management, that is contract management support, that supports other divisions in terms of ensuring that when they have contracts that they want to undertake with bid specifications... The then after the bid specifications, when the contract goes to the BEC, the Chief of Police nominates people who sits at the BEC together with Supply Chain officials and other appointed people for the BEC.”

Deputy Chief Dhlamini confirms the use of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) managed by his division to oversee contracts and ensure compliance with legal requirements and approval processes involving the Chief and Group Legal.

“we then prepare SLA’s for those contracts. I am raising this because it is pertinent, because as an end-user department, we must be able to ensure that there is an SLA in place to manage that contract... it is sent to the office of the Chief, who then take it to Group Legal for confirming that the SLA it complies with all the legal terms... thereafter it is sent to the service providers who also go through the SLA and confirm before signing in the SLA.”

EMMI stands for Executive Management Group for the Chief of Police and his Deputy Chief, as explained by Deputy Chief Dhlamini.

“The EMM is an Executive Management Group that we have for the Chief of Police and his Deputy Chief.”

Deputy Chief Dhlamini denies exerting influence on the extension of a security tender; intervention was requested by the Chief of Police after the BAC had not approved the extension report presented by Director Nwandule.

“The second assertion which was made by DCS Spies is that I have influenced the extension of the security tender through the CFO. It is incorrect.”

Deputy Chief Dhlamini facilitated the extension report for the security tender as requested by the Chief of Police to assist Director Nwandule and DC Bolhuis, the head of the assets protection unit at the time.

“I only facilitated and assisted as requested by the Chief of Police to assist Director Nwandule and DC Bolhuis with that report because by then DC Bolhuis was the one who was heading asset protection unit.”

Director Malatji did not stop the deployment of all ad hoc guards despite being given clear instructions to do so from 13 March 2025.

“you are now given a clear instruction that you must stop deployment of all adhoc guards with effect from tomorrow morning, in other words, with effect from the 13th of March 2025 . But you did not do that . You did not comply with this instruction”

Director Malatji alleges that if there is corruption in the appointment structure, it must be attributed to the Chief of Police or whoever approved the structure, not Deputy Commissioner Revo Spies, as he does not create the structure.

“the person then that you are accusing of corruption can not be ... must be the Chief of Police then... It cannot be Deputy Commissioner Spies ... He is not the boss of the TMPD”

Director Malatji agrees that corruption, if any, must involve those who came up with the new structure including the Chief of Police and whoever was working on structuring issues.

“It could be those who came up, right, with the new structure ... which would include the Chief of Police and whoever they were working on the issue of structures around it.”

There is a duty to identify the person or body responsible for approving the police structure, which could be the Chief of Police, City Manager, or Council.

“Somebody is responsible for approving the structure ... either the Chief of Police ... or the City Manager, or it is the Council.”

Director Malatji stated he raised the issue of PSIRA registration with the office of the Chief of Police in writing before Commissioner Spies was appointed as a complaint or inquiry.

“I raised the issue of the PSIRA with the office of the Chief of Police. That was in writing, long before Commissioner Spies could be appointed.”

Director Malatji said his supervisor requested funding for TMPD2, which Chief of Police and Municipal Manager approved; Umashi Dhlamini was not involved in the funding request.

“My supervisor requested funding. I prepared the report and the Chief of Police, the Municipal Manager, approved the funding request. Umashi Dhlamini was not involved in the funding request.”

The Commissioner Bolhuis forwarded the WhatsApp message and attached upliftment document to Deputy Commissioner Umashi Dlamini and others for action.

“I forwarded it to Deputy Chief Dlamini, Deputy Police Commissioner Dlamini. I cc'd the Chief of Police, CFO and whoever, relevant people...”

Commissioner Bolhuis states that there was continuous consultation and collaboration on the issue between the Chief of Police, himself and Deputy Chief Spies from the onset of Spies' appointment to address the concerns.

“from the onset that Deputy Police Commissioner Spies was appointed, there was an ongoing consultative process between the Chief of Police, myself, and Deputy Chief Spies on an ongoing basis... many consultative processes”

Commissioner Bolhuis was overloaded with two and a half posts when given additional human resource functions, but it was considered the best decision under the circumstances by the Chief of Police and top management.

“You are already inundated with two and a half posts or positions and just on the human resource element... Would you say this was the best decision to add this transition to your tasks?... I think it was the best decision under the circumstances... The Chief of Police looked at this and looked at her situation with her top management... and determined that I would be the best suited candidate to deal with this...”

The Chief of Police giving the human resource function to Commissioner Bolhuis was an interim, semi-crisis management measure due to uncertainty and expected appointment of a Deputy Chief around October 2024, which eventually happened only in March next year.

“It would be typical for a Chief of Police to give such a function because it is interim to the Chief of Staff... We already expected as a department to appoint a Deputy Chief round about October 24 onwards... the appointment eventually only came in March the next year.”

The Chief of Police referred to a form of security clearance known as vetting, but it is not a full vetting process; it involves checking criminal and illicit records annually for certain department and city members as requested.

“What the Chief of Police was referencing to, if I understand your statement correctly, is the security clearance. It is also commonly known as vetting, but it is not a full vetting. It is just security clearance. That process is ongoing on a yearly basis where we check for criminal and illicit records against members within the department and certain members in the city, when so requested by the city manager.”

Commissioner Bolhuis is functioning at Deputy Chief level despite the position being officially on a brigadier level according to approved structure, which is high stress and right-hand to Chief of Police.

“Although the position on the approved structure is on a brigadier level, I am functioning on a Deputy Chief level. It is a high, stressful position, the right-hand person to the Chief of Police, as indicated by some of the functions that I have already mentioned.”

Commissioner Bolhuis is responsible for managing unfair labour practice arbitrations at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) on behalf of the department and Chief of Police.

“I am further responsible for the management and coordination of unfair labour practices arbitrations at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council, SALGBC. This includes: attending step 3 grievances as per the COT collective agreement on behalf of the department/Chief of Police...”

No proper handover report was provided when the APSS transfer occurred, but a handover report was emailed to the Chief of Police by Ms Paledi Marota 10 months later.

“I was not provided with a handover report as one would expect... that a handover report was ultimately emailed to the Chief of Police by Ms Paledi Marota... on 10 April 025.”

Monthly budget meetings were held involving Deputy Commissioners and Chief of Police where APSS budget performance was discussed.

“We [the Deputy Commissioners and Chief of Police] had monthly budget meetings and APSS budget performance was mentioned/discussed.”

Final approval for finding additional funds for adhoc security services falls outside the TMPD unless it is covered by an approved budget, usually involving the Chief of Police, CFO, and city manager.

“Such final approval will not lie within the TMPD unless it is covered with the approved budget... The Chief of Police... can manage her own budget... then it goes through the processes recommended by the CFO, and it is finally approved by the accounting officer, which is the city manager...”

The Chief of Police has authority, either delegated or from legislation or protocol, to manage and allocate the approved budget for the division, while the CFO's authority extent is uncertain.

“The Chief of Police in her position as the group head... has certain authorities... She can manage her own budget that is been approved and allocated. So, if it falls without that budget, there is a process... The CFO... has the authority... to work within the budget that has been approved for the city. He can allocate and reallocate certain funding...”

A financial upliftment process was started and subsequently approved to address a shortfall in the Watchman Services budget, recommended by the Chief of Police, CFO, and approved by the accounting officer.

“We started the process of upliftment and that upliftment process was subsequently approved. It is recommended by the Chief of Police, it is recommended by the CFO, it is signed off and approved by the accounting officer.”

At the end of June financial year, the budget needed an uplift of R91 million due to exceeding the budget and inability to pay for sideline adhoc services, resulting in a letter drafted by Deputy Chief Dhlamini and approved by the Chief of Police and City Manager to authorize uplift funds payment.

“At the end of June... our budget needs an upliftment of R91 million because we have exceeded our budget and we could not pay for the sideline adhoc services... there was then, by the Chief of Police, a specific letter that was drafted in the department... signed off by the Chief of Police as recommended and requested, and the CFO to recommend it, and approved by the City Manager”

Chief of Police Commissioner Faro intervened by stating 30 additional sites must be stopped from increasing budget, calling the ad hoc security service irregular and instructing immediate cessation of ad hoc services.

“the Chief of Police, Commissioner Faro, also came in and saw this email and she started to reply... she stated 30 additional sites, I am not approaching anyone to increase the budget, this is irregular, Adhoc services must be stopped... stop all adhoc services with immediate effect.”