The South African Revenue Service (Sars) carried out search warrants at the home and office of City of Tshwane chief financial officer Gareth Mnisi on Thursday, the city confirmed.
Reports said Sars officials raided Mnisi’s home on Thursday morning. Sars officials were also seen at Tshwane House on Thursday morning.
“We can confirm that Sars had previously advised the City of its intention to execute search warrants at the office and residence of the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Gareth Mnisi,” mayoral spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi told The Citizen.
Mgobozi said the city believed Sars had since carried out those warrants. He said Mnisi later left the building with people wearing Sars clothing.
“Any further questions regarding the nature of the operation, the execution of the warrants or Mr Mnisi’s status should be directed to the South African Revenue Service,” Mgobozi said.
The city did not give details of the operation. It said questions about Mnisi’s status should go to Sars.
Mnisi went back to work in July. He returned after he received a final written warning at the end of disciplinary proceedings.
Those proceedings were linked to claims made before the Madlanga Commission. Mnisi was suspended earlier in 2026 because of these claims.
It was claimed that he shared secret tender information. It was also claimed that he may have influenced how the city bought goods and services.
At the time, Mnisi was the chairperson of the city’s Bid Adjudication Committee.
A forensic investigation also looked at claims that he did not declare some business interests. It checked his links with companies involved in city tenders.
The investigation did not find him guilty of misconduct. However, it recommended that disciplinary action be taken against him.
In July, the Tshwane Council voted to treat the claims against Mnisi as less serious. That vote cleared the way for him to return to his job.
The DA then went to court with an urgent application. It challenged the downgrade of the claims and the legality of the council meeting that approved it.
The same application also challenged the suspension of Municipal Manager Johann Mettler. Solidarity joined the legal challenge.
DA Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink said Mnisi had been given a “soft landing” despite serious findings against him.
Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya said she acted within her legal duties. She said she would abide by the court’s ruling.
The court cases focus on whether the council meeting and its voting process were valid. Those votes led to both the Mnisi and Mettler decisions.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Moneyweb. Image: Moneyweb. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.