Investigative Report: The Common Sense Reveals Alleged Corrupt Dealings at Tshwane Council

For more than a decade, Eugene Modise has been a central player in African National Congress (ANC) politics in Tshwane. He served as regional secretary, organising internal power contests and managing key structures. In 2022 he defeated Kgosi Maepa to become ANC regional chair, consolidating his authority as the party’s strongman in the capital.

From that position he became the ANC’s chief strategist in the effort to topple the Democratic Alliance (DA)-led coalition that had run Tshwane since 2016. That effort paid off in early 2023 when the DA was pushed out and the ANC returned to executive power with the help of Action SA. Following that, Modise rose to become the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for finance and later deputy mayor.

In November 2024, the DA laid a complaint against Modise, alleging that Modise may have benefited from a city contract linked to a company with which he was associated. That company was Triotic Protection Services and Modise was a co-founder and shareholder.

In 2022 the company was awarded a tender from the city valued at R300 million to provide security services. The DA alleged in its complaint that Modise did not declare his financial interests in the company after joining the city administration and, further, that he continued to profit from the tender.

In February 2025, the city instituted a process to begin an investigation into the matter. A law firm was appointed to conduct the investigation.

The outcomes of that investigation were made available to the mayor on 5 September and presented to the city council last week.

The law firm’s report, which The Common Sense has seen, found that “Modise’s failure to disclose this business arrangement constitutes a material breach of the duty to disclose financial interests”.

It also found that “Modise further asserted that he sold his ownership interest in Triotic to Ms Neo Mafodi”, but that “the sale was structured as an instalment transaction and that he continues to receive payments from Ms Mafodi”. Therefore, “although he no longer holds a formal role or equity interest, he retains a financial link to Triotic”. The report stated, “Despite formal requests, Mr Modise has not furnished the investigation team with documentary proof of the sale.”

The forensic report recommended that the council institute disciplinary proceedings against Modise.

Opposition parties say this is a textbook conflict of interest.

Grandi Theunissen of the Freedom Front Plus said Modise had benefited from a company doing business with the city and had not disclosed this.

The DA has gone further and is preparing to lay criminal charges, while accusing the governing coalition of protecting Modise by sending the report to a special committee instead of acting on its findings immediately.

The Common Sense has been informed that the DA intends to lay two charges of fraud against Modise later in the week.

Cilliers Brink, the former mayor of Tshwane, told The Common Sense: “Mayor Nasiphi Moya has had this forensic report, that shows that her deputy mayor and finance MMC, Eugene Modise, is profiting from a contract in government … It is the mayor who determines who the MMC for finance is, a critical portfolio that includes oversight of tenders and revenue management. The City of Tshwane has got a critical mission at the moment to manage the city's financial distress, and she has decided to keep this person in his position. Despite what she knows, she’s constantly tried to avoid questions about her conduct and her responsibilities.”