Tshwane mayor leaves speaker to defend controversial council meeting in court

MENU  DATA  SIGN IN SUBSCRIBE   Create account Free   Newsletters Free   Insider Gold R70pm   Insider Pro Advisors   Support journalism PODCASTS LISTEN     MoneywebNOW   Moneyweb@Midday   RSG Geldsake   SAfm Market Update   All podcasts Click an ADVISOR   Advisor profiles   Advisor views   Reader questions   Submit a question   Sign up MOBILE 1 SEPT 2026 • Sandton MONEYSUMMIT Tools: Daily indicators Sens Comparison Tool Watchlist   Unit Trusts: Click a Unit Trust Unit Trust stats Unit Trust holdings ETFs & ETNs Asset Managers ALL DATA TOOLS Shares: Click a Company Company stats Winners & losers 52-week highs/lows Top by value/volume Top 40 Companies Consensus forecasts JSE sectors Business calendar Director dealings Dividend watch Dividend History Company contacts Annual Reports Heatmap JSE Indices Value Move % World Indices Value 1 day 7 day Currencies Value Move % Commodities Value Move % 5 SHARES Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Print Next article Eskom doubles profit after ending load shedding × Share this article × 5 Shares Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Print Tshwane mayor leaves speaker to defend controversial council meeting in court Join our free mailing list for top business news. × South Africa   Insider Gold Tshwane mayor leaves speaker to defend controversial council meeting in court Moya will abide by the court’s interim ruling on the Mettler and Mnisi matters. Antoinette Slabbert · 27 Jul 2026, 04:02  Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya reserves the right to oppose matters at a later stage should any of the parties directly challenge her conduct. Image: Moya's X page The Speaker of the Tshwane city council, Mncedi Ndzwanana, will answer for himself in court over the chaotic council meeting on 9 July during which city manager Johann Mettler was suspended. At the same meeting, the council also paved the way for the return to work of its chief financial officer, Gareth Mnisi, whose conduct came under scrutiny following testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System. At the time of the council meeting, Mnisi was on cautionary suspension pending a forensic investigation into his conduct. Read: Tshwane slaps CFO Mnisi on wrist before DA court challenge He was later issued with only a final written warning, which expires after six months, despite the forensic investigation finding that he had, over a period of two years, failed to declare his directorships in several companies and his relationship with firms doing business with the metro. This followed the council’s decision at the disputed meeting that the transgressions amounted to less serious misconduct, resulting in Mnisi being subjected to an informal disciplinary process. However, Ndzwanana swung the outcome of the votes on both matters by deducting 13 votes from those opposing Mettler’s suspension and the lenient treatment of Mnisi. Decisions to be set aside? Urgent applications by the trade union Solidarity and the Democratic Alliance (DA) to have those decisions set aside will be heard in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday (28 July). Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, one of the respondents in the matter, told the court in affidavits seen by Moneyweb that she will not oppose the applications. She will abide by the court’s ruling and says Ndzwanana must explain and defend his own decisions. Should the applications succeed, the court is expected to grant interim relief by temporarily setting the decisions aside before hearing the matter in full at a later stage to determine whether the interim orders should be made final. Moya, an ActionSA member, reserves the right to oppose the matter at that stage should any of the parties directly challenge her conduct. She says every step she took regarding Mettler’s suspension was in accordance with municipal legislation and regulations, and that she does not have the authority to disregard a council resolution or substitute it with her own decision. ActionSA, which governs Tshwane in coalition with the ANC, EFF and African Transformation Movement (ATM), sided with the DA, Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and the Republican Conference of Tshwane during the meeting in an attempt to keep Mettler in office and ensure that Mnisi faced a formal disciplinary process. Chaotic meeting The extent of the chaos that unfolded during the meeting is detailed in an affidavit by Cilliers Brink, the DA’s former mayor of Tshwane and once again the party’s mayoral candidate for the municipal elections scheduled for 4 November. According to Brink, it was a special council meeting to which councillors received only two days’ notice, contrary to the rules that generally require at least 72 hours’ notice. The reason for the meeting was not disclosed in advance and enquiries about its purpose went unanswered. As a result, councillors were unable to prepare for it, Brink says. When the meeting commenced at 10am on 9 July, neither the agenda nor the reports to be considered had been made available. The DA formally objected to this state of affairs. The speaker confirmed that he had not yet received anything from the mayor either. Half an hour later, Ndzwanana granted the ANC’s request for a one-hour caucus, apparently to delay proceedings until the agenda and reports could be circulated. The agenda and two reports – one dealing with Mettler and the other with Mnisi – were emailed to councillors only shortly after 11:00, and the meeting resumed at around 11:30. Read: Tshwane CFO in Madlanga Commission crosshairs Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi suspended Knives are out for Tshwane city manager The DA then requested a 90-minute caucus to study the reports, whereupon the speaker ruled that the meeting would reconvene after lunch at 14:30. Council reconvened accordingly, only for the FF+ to requested a further one-hour caucus, which was also granted. The meeting eventually resumed at 15:30. By that stage, nine DA 13 councillors and one FF+ councillor had withdrawn their previously-submitted apologies for the meeting and arrived for the remainder of the proceedings. The speaker ruled that they were not permitted to participate. They nevertheless voted on both matters before the council. Brink maintains that, under those circumstances, Ndzwanana was obliged to accept their votes. Vote outcome The vote was conducted by a show of hands, with a majority voting against Mettler’s suspension and in favour of classifying Mnisi’s conduct as serious misconduct, which would have triggered a formal disciplinary process that could have resulted in his dismissal. After the vote, Ndzwanana – acting on a proposal by the EFF – decided to deduct 13 votes from those majorities to account for the 13 councillors who had earlier been granted leave. This despite 10 of those councillors actually being present and having cast their votes. As a result, the ANC/EFF grouping secured the majority, paving the way for Mettler’s suspension and the lenient disciplinary outcome for Mnisi. The DA and Solidarity argue that Ndzwanana – an African Transformation Movement member – unlawfully manipulated the outcome of the votes, and Moya has now left it to him, her coalition partner, to explain his conduct in court. Moneyweb understands that Ndzwanana is opposing the applications brought by Solidarity and the DA, but has not yet been able to obtain access to his affidavits filed with the court. Google See more of Moneyweb Google News Follow our coverage Newsletters Get news in your inbox Social Media Join the conversation Social media Follow us on our official channels: TAGS: ActionSA |  Cilliers Brink |  coalitions |  Democratic Alliance |  Dr Nasiphi Moya |  Gareth Mnisi |  Johann Mettler |  Madlanga Commission |  Mncedi Ndzwanana |  Nasiphi Moya |  solidarity |  Tshwane mayor AUTHOR PROFILE Antoinette Slabbert   Follow   Mail   More articles Antoinette is a versatile senior journalist with a special interest in energy and electricity as well as local government. She specialises in explaining complex regulatory issues to stakeholders and the public and often participates in public discussions about such matters. COMMENTS   0 You must be signed in to comment. SIGN IN SUBSCRIBE or create a free account. Free users can leave 4 comments per month. Subscribers can leave unlimited comments via our website and app. MORE South Africa Eskom doubles profit after ending load shedding 31 Aug 2026 / Paul Burkhardt, Bloomberg Deputy President Mashatile recovering after minor surgery 31 Aug 2026 / Paul Richardson, Bloomberg SA records fewer murders as police step up crime fight 31 Aug 2026 / Paul Vecchiatto, Bloomberg Joburg’s dirtiest river may lose its only champion 31 Aug 2026 / Sean Christie, GroundUp Large businesses flag labour laws as key constraint 31 Aug 2026 / Katharine Child Why Treasury’s unclaimed assets plan has retirement funds worried 31 Aug 2026 / Katharine Child LATEST INDICATORS   USD / ZARGBP / ZAREUR / ZARBTC / USDJSE ALSIGOLDBrent Crude $ More Indicators   ADVISOR VIEWS From momentum to quality: The next phase of the technology trade 31 Aug 2026 / Keagan Marcia Before you retire: 10 questions that matter beyond the money 31 Aug 2026 / Hannah Myburgh Financial behaviour – Part 20: Endowment bias – Why we value what we already own more than what we do not 31 Aug 2026 / Jaco Fouché 20 money moves that can give you a financial edge in your 20s 28 Aug 2026 / Alex Odendaal Ignoring the obvious to pursue the complex 28 Aug 2026 / Gareth Collier Go to Click an Advisor   Editor's Picks Commented Top Read 1Clicks takes on R900bn township market with new brand2Eskom needs protection against competition, says Ramokgopa3V&A launches R1.4bn retiree residential development 1Eskom needs protection against competition, says Ramokgopa   282What happens if you give everyone $700? A local economy thrives   83SA produces enough food, yet millions face hunger   6 1 FSCA confirms insider trading investigation into Curro shares 2 TFG commences Section 189 process 3 Transnet looks to dispose of landmark Carlton Centre and Durban Station precincts ADVISOR VIEWS From momentum to quality: The next phase of the technology trade 31 Aug 2026 / Keagan Marcia Before you retire: 10 questions that matter beyond the money 31 Aug 2026 / Hannah Myburgh Financial behaviour – Part 20: Endowment bias – Why we value what we already own more than what we do not 31 Aug 2026 / Jaco Fouché 20 money moves that can give you a financial edge in your 20s 28 Aug 2026 / Alex Odendaal Go to Click an Advisor   Moneyweb Newsletters * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name Moneyweb newsletters Moneyweb NOW - Morning news Moneyweb Weekly Wrap-up Op RSG Geldsake vanaand (in Afr) On SAFM Market update tonight Moneyweb Events and Webinars Moneyweb Crypto By subscribing, you agree to receive the Moneyweb emails you selected above. You can unsubscribe at any time. View our privacy policy. MORE South Africa Eskom doubles profit after ending load shedding 31 Aug 2026 / Paul Burkhardt, Bloomberg Deputy President Mashatile recovering after minor surgery 31 Aug 2026 / Paul Richardson, Bloomberg SA records fewer murders as police step up crime fight 31 Aug 2026 / Paul Vecchiatto, Bloomberg Joburg’s dirtiest river may lose its only champion 31 Aug 2026 / Sean Christie, GroundUp Large businesses flag labour laws as key constraint 31 Aug 2026 / Katharine Child Why Treasury’s unclaimed assets plan has retirement funds worried 31 Aug 2026 / Katharine Child LATEST ARTICLES Moneyweb@Midday Sars is getting tougher – taxpayers need to fight smarter 31 Aug 2026 / Jeremy Maggs   ‘One has to consider each request from Sars as saying, what is it that they’re actually testing so that you can respond appropriately and avoid the dispute,’ says Nico Theron, founder of Unicus Tax Specialists. Old Mutual sees profit drop due to lower investment returns Moneyweb@Midday Low, fast and controversial: Assessing the Airlink flyover LATEST OPINION SA-Brazil deal is politics, not a trade strategy – Mavuso The collapsed pyramid: Redesigning the AI-enabled firm – Part 2 US economy thriving, but its consumers are not SPONSORED Podcast brought to you by STANLIB Asset Management Rate hike bets return as Fed outlook shifts 31 August 2026 Nelis Brink PSG Wealth ASK AN ADVISOR Are we effectively paying double fees on local ZAR feeder funds? 22 July 2026 Home Latest articles Fast News In depth Eduvos Future Forex Geddes Capital GIBS LookSee Merchant West Nedbank Agri Nedbank CIB Nedbank Mid-Corporate Peregrine Capital PSG Wealth Standard Bank Group Stanlib Investing Commodities Equities ESG ETFs Offshore investing Property SME Unit Trusts News South Africa Africa International Budget Companies and Deals Economy Fast News Investigations Industry Markets Marketingweb Mineweb Tech Radio – Listen Live SAFM Market Update RSG Geldsake Podcasts Be a Better Investor The Business of Africa Crypto podcasts Doen jou eie ding FixSA How to Make Money Mandates & Megaphones Moneyweb@Midday MoneywebNOW Money Rules Mzansi Business The Property Pod Supernatural Stocks Special Report MyMoney Financial Planning Personal Finance Tax Opinion Columnists Soapbox Tools and data 52-Week Highs/Lows Annual Reports Asset Managers Business Calendar Company Stats Company contact info Comparison Tool Click a Company Consensus forecasts Daily Indicators Directors’ Dealings Dividend History ETFs & ETNs Heatmap JSE Sectors Portfolios/Watchlist Sens Top 40 Companies Top by Value & volume Unit Trust Holdings Unit Trust Stats Unit Trust Search Winners & Losers Moneyweb Crypto Crypto podcasts Bitcoin Ethereum MoneywebTV Executive Exchange Webinars All videos Click an Advisor Advisor Profiles Advisor Views Reader questions Submit a question Sign up – Click an Advisor Enquire – Click an Advisor Subscribe Insider GOLD Insider PRO – Click an Advisor Newsletters Support journalism Moneyweb App Stay updated Login Register Information & FAQ Help About us Contact us Advertise Authors & Presenters Careers Investor relations PAIA Manual Terms of Use (Privacy Policy, Ts & Cs) Cookie Policy Complaints Home News Newsletters Insider subscription Daily indicators Click a company Click an Advisor Radio / Livestream Podcasts About Moneyweb Advertise with us Contact Moneyweb Help Information & FAQ Moneyweb App Privacy Policy / Terms of Use Price and trade data source: JSE Ltd. Statistics calculated by Profile Data. Data is delayed by at least 15 minutes. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use. Copyright © 2026 Moneyweb (Pty) Ltd. All Rights Reserved. ',"none"!==article_obj.is_sponsor&&(output+=''+article_obj.is_sponsor+""),output+=''+anchorTag,output+='',output+=''+article_obj.date+"",output+="",output+=""}function movePanel(id){jQuery("#"+id+"-mobile").html(jQuery("#"+id).html())}function hideMobilePanel(id){jQuery("#"+id).css("display","block"),jQuery("#"+id+"-mobile").css("display","none")}function showMobilePanel(id){jQuery("#"+id).css("display","none"),jQuery("#"+id+"-mobile").css("display","block")}function completedWindowResizing(){var width=jQuery(window).width();width Home News Latest News Fast News South Africa Africa AI Budget Companies and Deals Covid-19 Economy Eskom Industry International Investigations Markets Marketingweb Mineweb Tech In depth Eduvos Future Forex Geddes Capital GIBS LookSee Merchant West Nedbank Agri Nedbank CIB Nedbank Mid-Corporate Nedbank Private Wealth Old Mutual Group Communications Otto1890 Peregrine Capital Platinum Portfolios PSG Wealth RMB Think Summit Sable International Standard Bank Group Stanlib Webinars Events View all MyMoney Educational Video Series Financial Planning Personal Finance Retirement #SavingsMonth Tax Investing Commodities Equities ESG ETFs Offshore investing Property SME Unit Trusts Crypto Crypto news Crypto podcasts Bitcoin Ethereum Opinion Columnists Soapbox Desk of the President Podcasts All podcasts Be a Better Investor The Business of Africa Crypto podcasts Executive Exchange FixSA How to Make Money With … Mandates & Megaphones Moneyweb@Midday MoneywebNOW Mzansi Business The Property Pod Supernatural Stocks Special Report Doen jou eie ding Small Business Conversations Radio Listen live RSG Geldsake SAFM Market Update MoneywebTV Executive Exchange Mzansi Business Click an Advisor Sign up for Click an Advisor All advisor profiles Advisor views Reader questions Submit your question Contact us Tools and data All data tools 52-week highs/lows Asset Managers Annual Reports Business calendar Click a Company Company contacts Company stats Comparison Tool Daily indicators Directors’ dealings Dividend History ETF & ETN search Heatmap JSE sectors Portfolio Tool / Watchlist SENS Top 40 Companies Top by value/volume Unit Trust holdings Unit Trust Search Unit Trust Stats Winners and losers INSIDER SUBSCRIPTION APP NEWSLETTERS PODCASTS RADIO / LISTEN LIVE VIDEOS WEBINARS TRENDING FOLLOW US: SEARCH: Search Search JSE companies: Unit Trusts ETFs/ETNs SENS TRENDING: More SA produces enough food, yet millions face hunger 30 Aug 2026  /  Ikechukwu Opara, Frederic Isingizwe   6 Five takeaways from Bill Gates’s essay on AI’s potential risks 30 Aug 2026  /  Micah Barkley, Bloomberg   3 IN DEPTH: Sponsored Brought to you by Otto1890 When pigs fly: A story about infrastructure and iron ore Brought to you by Old Mutual Group Communications The investment-readiness gap holding back SA’s small businesses SIGN IN: Email Password Stay logged in Forgot password Create a free account, or contact us to assist. Access all our articles Post comments and replies News & Sens email alerts Premium data tools Sens archive and Sens PDFs. SUBSCRIBE NOW You can cancel at any time.