Tshwane Mayor Under Pressure Over Eugene Modise’s Business Dealings
Nasiphi Moya is expected to act on Eugene Modise’s alleged business dealing. (Eugene Modise via X)
by Mathipa Phishego
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya faces mounting pressure to act against her deputy, Eugene “Bonzo” Modise, following allegations that he conducted business with the city through a private security company, Triotic, in apparent violation of municipal finance laws.
The Finance MMC is accused of benefiting from contracts awarded to Triotic, which provides “watchman” services to the City of Tshwane. The company is among those implicated in R170 million worth of irregular expenditure flagged by the Democratic Alliance (DA) earlier this year.
Modise has denied wrongdoing, insisting his involvement with Triotic ended before his election as councillor, and that he divested from the company upon assuming public office. But opposition parties have questioned the timing of his withdrawal and accused the ANC-led administration of shielding him.
DA mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink has demanded that Mayor Moya release the investigation findings and fire Modise, warning that the DA will table a motion of no confidence if she fails to act. “If there was an internal report implicating Modise, the mayor should already have fired him,” Brink said.
Compounding the controversy are revelations that Mzansi Resorts, a company owned by Modise, owes the city R23 million in property rates and water arrears. Critics argue the lack of disconnections at the property shows double standards, especially amid widespread service delivery failures.
Republican Conference councillor Lex Middelberg accused Modise of damage control rather than integrity, claiming the DA had known about the matter since 2022 but delayed action.
Moya, who campaigned on a platform of clean governance, has defended her measured approach, saying she will only act once the investigation report is tabled in council. However, her silence has drawn criticism, with reports that she left a recent council meeting when the issue was raised.
The scandal has reignited concerns about conflicts of interest and weak accountability in South African municipalities. With the DA threatening a no-confidence motion, the coming council sessions could determine not only Modise’s political future but also the stability of Tshwane’s fragile coalition government.
