The City of Tshwane council has placed city manager Johann Mettler on precautionary suspension with full pay pending the outcome of an independent investigation, while simultaneously lifting the suspension of chief financial officer Gareth Mnisi after determining that the allegations against him constitute ‘less serious misconduct’.
The decisions, taken during a council sitting on Thursday evening concluded two separate disciplinary processes involving the city’s most senior administrators and have exposed sharp political divisions within the governing coalition and opposition parties.
Announcing the outcome, the Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya said council had considered Mettler’s written representations submitted in response to the proposed suspension before resolving to place him on precautionary suspension in terms of the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers.
“After considering the representations, together with the applicable legislative framework and the matters previously placed before Council, Council resolved to place the City Manager on precautionary suspension on full pay pending the outcome of the independent investigation,” Moya said.
She sought to reassure residents that the decision would not disrupt the functioning of the municipality.
“I want to assure residents that the administration remains stable and fully focused on delivering reliable services, maintaining the City’s financial stability, accelerating infrastructure investment and improving the quality of life of all those who live in our capital city.”
Mettler’s suspension follows allegations raised by EFF councillor Obakeng Ramabodu, who accused the city manager of serious misconduct, financial misconduct, maladministration and gross dereliction of duty.
Africa Daily previously reported the allegations include claims relating to the appointment of former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Revo Spies to what Ramabodu described as a non-existent post within the Tshwane Metro Police Department, as well as allegations that Mettler suppressed a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report into the controversial Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant tender.
Spies previously testified before the Madlanga Commission, where he implicated now criminally charged EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi in alleged tender irregularities.
However, Mettler’s suspension immediately drew criticism from opposition parties, which questioned both the substance of the allegations and the process followed by council.
The Democratic Alliance described the suspension as unlawful, alleging the outcome was manipulated after votes had already been counted.
DA Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink claimed the EFF motion to suspend Mettler had initially failed before the Speaker deducted 13 votes from various parties, reversing the outcome.
“The Speaker arbitrarily deducted 13 votes from various parties, including the DA, reversing the outcome and paving the way for Mr Mettler’s suspension,” Brink said.
“The DA believes today’s proceedings were a sham and fundamentally flawed.”
The Freedom Front Plus also questioned the decision, announcing it had approached the Public Protector to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suspension.
The party’s caucus leader, Grandi Theunissen, said there was “strong suspicion” that the move was politically motivated.
“There is strong suspicion that the decision is politically motivated and linked to Mettler’s stance on certain tender processes currently under investigation by the Madlanga Commission,” Theunissen said.
“It is critical that senior officials are protected from political interference and that the integrity of municipal administration is upheld.”
ActionSA, however, revealed it had opposed Mettler’s suspension despite the council ultimately approving it.
The party’s national chairperson, Michael Beaumont, said ActionSA believed a precautionary suspension was not justified because the allegations related to matters that had already been investigated by institutions including the Auditor-General, Public Protector and the courts.
“This decision was grounded in the reason that a suspension cannot be warranted against allegations that are dated and have already been investigated by bodies like the Auditor-General, Public Protector and the Courts such that there is not a reasonable risk of the ongoing investigation or witnesses being interfered with,” Beaumont said.
He added that the independent investigation into the allegations against Mettler would nevertheless continue.
On the separate matter involving Mnisi, council resolved to institute disciplinary proceedings but found the allegations amounted to less serious misconduct under the applicable regulations.
Moya said council had considered the findings of a final forensic investigation before reaching its decision.
“The disciplinary process will now proceed in accordance with the prescribed statutory procedures,” she said.
Mnisi had been implicated during proceedings before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where WhatsApp messages suggested criminally charged police sergeant Fannie Nkosi sought confirmation from him about a list of preferred service providers allegedly linked to security tenders.
Evidence before the commission also raised questions about whether Mnisi had attempted to assist Nkosi’s brother in securing a municipal security contract. Mnisi denied the allegations and also rejected claims that EFF leader Julius Malema had provided him with any list of preferred companies, saying he had never met Malema.
Unlike its position on Mettler, ActionSA supported classifying the allegations against Mnisi as serious misconduct and argued that he should have remained suspended pending a formal disciplinary hearing.
Beaumont also criticised the DA, saying its failure to field its full caucus during Thursday’s council sitting contributed to both outcomes.
“The DA in particular were 15 councillors short of their full quota, the consequence of which is that there were not sufficient numbers to prevent Mnisi’s return to run the finances of the city or stop the suspension of the municipal manager,” he said.
ActionSA maintained that while wrongdoing must be dealt with decisively, unnecessary instability within the city’s senior administration would undermine efforts to turn Tshwane around.
