The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane on Wednesday formally laid a criminal complaint against Tshwane Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise at the Brooklyn Police Station, assisted by the private prosecution unit of AfriForum under former National Prosecuting Authority prosecutor Advocate Gerrie Nel.

DA Tshwane spokesperson for finance Jacqui Uys said this follows the findings of a Tshwane investigative report that confirms that Modise failed to declare and divest his interests in Triotic Protection Services, a service provider of the municipality.

Uys said Modise continued to benefit from this contract in contravention of the Code of Conduct for Councillors.

She also pointed to a R59-million judgment granted in favour of the South African Revenue Service against Triotic Protection Services in August 2023, which she said raised the question whether, at material times, the company submitted the tax clearance certificate necessary to do business with the State.

⁠She highlighted the need for a thorough investigation in terms of the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act into the circumstances under which Triotic's contract with Tshwane was procured and extended.

Uys explained that Nel’s assistance was to ensure that the case against Modise was properly investigated.

She said City of Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya knew since September that Modise benefitted “unlawfully” from a municipal contract.

“Yet she retains him as Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, a portfolio critical to Tshwane's financial recovery.

“Modise acts in her place during her numerous overseas trips, is allowed to make unilateral announcements about disputed salary increases with enormous financial implications for the City, and he routinely accompanies City officials on by-law enforcement operations despite his own contempt for the law,” she said.

She held that Moya's “failure of leadership” set a bad example for Tshwane officials.

“…but it also confirms the extent to which parties like ActionSA, the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Patriotic Alliance have effectively become co-opted comrades willing to turn a blind-eye to the abuses of cadres like Modise,” she said.