Tshwane on Edge: CFO Faces Misconduct Hearing as Budget War Erupts in Council

Tensions in Tshwane are set to boil over this week as the city awaits the scheduling of a misconduct hearing for Chief Financial Officer Gareth Mnisiand as the fallout from last week’s chaotic council meeting continues to reverberate.

The CFO Allegations

Two political parties have formally demanded action against Mnisi.

Republican Conference of Tshwane councillor Lex Middelberg and ANC greater Tshwane regional secretary George Matjila wrote to the city manager regarding charges of serious misconduct facing the CFO.

The city was expected to respond by Monday following the letters of demand, with a special meeting required to take place before tomorrow.

The Budget Walkout

Last Thursday, the DA’s Tshwane mayoral candidate, Cilliers Brink, led his party out of a council sitting after voting against what he described as a budget based on “carefully hidden information, half-truths and devious accounting.”

Brink said the DA rejects the budget adjustment and proudly voted against it.

“It allocates no additional funds to water tankers, while internal reports to the budget steering committee state the budget allocation for water tankers has been depleted, and R125 million worth of unauthorised expenditure has already been incurred at the end of December 2025.”

He noted that this follows R777 million spending on water tankers in the first year of the ANC-led administrationa 455% increase from the DA-led administration that preceded them.

The Defence

ActionSA Tshwane caucus spokesperson Henriette Frohlich pushed back, saying the party will not be intimidated by “false narratives and fake outrage” that seek to downplay progress made under ActionSA mayor Nasiphi Moya.

Frohlich said she has received official confirmation from National Treasury that the 2025-26 adjustment budget remains funded, with an operating surplus of R1.2 billion.

“The adjustment budget forms part of the mid-term review, as contained in the five-year strategic integrated development plan and the city’s recovery plan,” she said.

The FF+ View

Freedom Front Plus councillor Grandi Theunissen also walked out, saying Tshwane deserves a budget that’s truly sustainable, safeguards service delivery, and responsibly manages taxpayers’ money.

He said the 2025-26 budget has been inadequate from the outset and the latest adjustment budget merely exacerbates the city’s financial strain.

“Residents now face higher tariffs while service delivery keeps deteriorating, as the budget conceals a structural deficit and failed projects.”

Though the unlawful cleansing levy was scrapped, Theunissen said the city is now attempting to fill the gap with artificial upward adjustments to fines, rentals, and interest.

The Bottom Line

A CFO facing misconduct allegations. A budget denounced as “devious” by opposition parties. A mayor’s administration fighting to defend its record. And a council chamber where walkouts have become the new normal.

Tshwane is not just awaiting a hearing. It is awaiting clarityon its finances, its leadership, and its future.

{Source: Citizen}

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