On Thursday morning, a team of over a dozen officials from the South African Revenue Service (Sars) conducted a search and seizure operation at the office of City of Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi. The raid, which lasted less than 30 minutes, saw the officials confiscate Mnisi's laptop and mobile phone. According to an insider, the operation was swift and limited to Mnisi's office. The officials, clad in Sars-branded clothing, requested access to Mnisi's office and left with the CFO apparently heading to his residential property.
The raid comes barely three months after Mnisi returned to office following a suspension and a warning after his testimony at the Madlanga commission of inquiry earlier this year. Mnisi had come under the spotlight earlier this year when it emerged that he owned multiple luxury vehicles, including two Porsches, two Range Rovers, and two BMWs. Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed the raid but declined to comment further. Mnisi could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
Sars spokesperson Siphithi Sibeko stated that the organization would neither confirm nor deny that it conducted operations against Mnisi, citing the Chapter 6 provisions of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 on the prohibition of disclosure of confidential taxpayer information. The Sars raid on Mnisi's office is the latest development in a series of events that have seen Mnisi face scrutiny over his financial dealings.
Earlier this year, a forensic report commissioned by the City of Tshwane identified procurement irregularities and recommended disciplinary action against Mnisi. However, the report stopped short of finding Mnisi guilty of financial misconduct. The report followed allegations that emerged during testimony before the Madlanga commission of inquiry into political interference, criminality, and corruption, where Mnisi appeared in March.
The report found that Mnisi failed to declare directorships in companies and his role as a trustee and beneficiary of the Mnisi Family Trust during the 2024/25 financial year. Investigators also concluded that he failed to disclose his relationship with Ngaphesheya Construction and Projects, amounting to a breach of municipal rules and policies.
Mnisi was further found to have taken no action against director of performance management Victor Kgopa, who chaired a bid evaluation committee, despite concerns that his conduct could be viewed as compromising the integrity of the procurement process. On the issue of unpaid invoices, the report found that Mnisi failed to refer Tshwane Metro Police Department deputy commissioner Umashi Dlamini to the chief of police after Dlamini shared an invoice with disgraced former police officer, Fannie Nkosi.
The Democratic Alliance had opposed the finding that Mnisi was only liable for a final warning. The Sars raid on Mnisi's office has raised further questions about his financial dealings and the City of Tshwane's procurement processes. The incident has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in municipal financial management.
Key points
- Sars conducts swift raid on Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi's office, confiscating personal gadgets.
- Mnisi faces scrutiny over his financial dealings, including ownership of multiple luxury vehicles.
- Forensic report identifies procurement irregularities, recommends disciplinary action against Mnisi.
