probity

The disappearance of six documents allowed the internal control processes to be tested and proved effective as the process was able to hold the process accountable and determine an individual responsible for the lost documents between Probity and BEC.

“this was a positive thing that we were able to pick this up because it showed that the internal control processes were in place and they were working adequately. We were then able to hold the process accountable ... we were able to hold an individual accountable for documents that had been lost”

Mr Mnisi clarified that documents were lost or could not be found between Probity and BEC after the Probity process was done during the transfer process.

“documents were lost or could not be found between Probity and BEC after the process was done ... it was between the transfer process where the Probity report was available”

The cancellation resolutions cited difference in interpretation between BEC and BAC and BEC and Probity as the primary reason for cancellation, which was confirmed as accepted by BEC.

“The first reason for cancelling is a difference in interpretation between BEC and BAC, BEC and Probity. You have confirmed that BEC accepted that Probity was right. Can you confirm that ? I can confirm that .”

Mr Mnisi insisted on probity occurring without fail to strengthen the tender award process despite not escalating reports about mandates given to Victor to rig the tender.

“No, I did see to take it further. And me taking it further was insisting on probity to occur without fail.”

Probity would not have detected external attempts to influence the tender process, such as approaches to Mr Modise or Sergeant Nkosi to influence compliance and the tender.

“Probity would not have picked up attempts, external attempts to interfere in the process. For example ... that Mr Modise has been approached to do something ... Sergeant Nkosi asked you to confirm compliance, and later on you suspect ... wanted you to influence the tender. Probity would not have picked up this mandate to Victor.”

Mr Mnisi asserted that probity focuses on assessing actual tenders and documentation rather than attempts to unduly influence the process.

“Probity would have picked up whether there was an actual tender of those documents, whether there was actual influence. They would not have picked up an attempt.”

The City has introduced a probity process as a second evaluation to detect wrongdoing in tenders, which further causes delays and can lead to cancellation if wrongdoing is found.

“The City has introduced a process called probity. So now it will happen that the BEC will evaluate and do all of this work . Then probity will be the group audit and risk ... They will redo the complete process of the BEC to verify that the BEC did not crook ... Probity could found wrongness ... the report will actually state that there was wrongness and it will be cancelled again. So it is a problematic process of delays that happen because of volumes that is involved.”

The tender 3/2425 was cancelled due to two reasons found by probity: ambiguous pricing schedule and missing six bid documents causing irregularity, requiring a fresh tender process.

“the 3/2425 , must be cancelled because there were two reasons that was given on the report . The one reason – and it comes from probity, what probity found . The one reason was that the pricing schedule that was attached to the tender originally was ambiguous . And the reason for the ambiguity was that the BEC stated that on the pricing schedule there may be no blank spaces ... the second finding was that when the documents was removed from supply chain in the BEC, there was a register where probity signed for all the documents, all the bid documents . However, when they returned it , six documents were missing. And that missing documents then caused the second reason why this tender... be cancelled because of this irregularity”

The tender TMPD 03/2024/25 for security services at City of Tshwane sites was recommended for cancellation due to material irregularity found during evaluation and probity review.

“the BEC therefore recommend that the tender for the appointment of a service provider to provide security services at various sites belonging to the City of Tshwane, including substations and reservoirs, for a three-year period be cancelled due to material irregularity.”

During evaluation of tender TMPD 03/2024/25, the committee identified misalignment and material irregularities including ambiguous specifications and pricing schedule leading to multiple interpretations.

“During the evaluation of the tender, the committee identified misalignment and material irregularities. That during the meeting between the BEC and probity teams on 26 August 2025, it became apparent that there were multiple interpretations of the specifications, particularly the pricing schedule which was issued as an addendum.”