Madlanga Commission | Mogotsi’s testimony riddled with contradictions

Controversial businessman, Brown Mogotsi, delivered a chaotic day of testimony at the Madlanga Commission, repeatedly implicating himself while making sweeping — and often unverified — allegations against senior police officials, politicians, and even foreign intelligence agencies.

The controversial North West businessman, who is accused of acting as a middleman between suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, stunned the commission when he referred to Matlala as “John Wick” — the elusive figure linked to assassinations of Boko Haram gang members in Mamelodi.

But what was more striking was Mogotsi’s pattern of contradiction, “memory lapses,” and admissions that several of his claims were based on hearsay.

Admits to accepting money from Matlala

During his testimony, Mogotsi admitted to accepting money from Matlala while misleading him about the possibility of meeting Minister Mchunu — a meeting he now insists never happened.

He admitted that Matlala paid around R150,000 into his fiancée’s business account, Kgotle, allegedly to cover travel, accommodation and other expenses for him and his handlers. Additional funding was allegedly used for ANC members travelling to Cape Town for the party’s January 8 celebrations.

Despite acknowledging the payments, he distanced himself from accounting for how the money was spent, saying his fiancée handled the company’s finances.

Contradicts himself on alleged multimillion-rand payments

Mogotsi told the commission that Matlala had allegedly paid “millions” to suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya seeking help with his frustrations – a remark he appeared to not recall making.

Throughout the session he repeatedly retreated from earlier claims, insisting he could not remember details or had merely “heard” the allegations from others.

In another startling admission, Mogotsi told the commission that he and associates monitored the movements of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi ahead of his July 6 press briefing.

He claims to have sent Mkhwanazi a text message two days before the briefing as a “facade,” signalling that he knew about the upcoming announcement.

He further alleged — without providing evidence — that Mkhwanazi’s briefing notes were drafted at SAPS Pretoria College.

Hearsay allegations about foreign intelligence links

Mogotsi also made a series of claims suggesting that Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini were linked to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Pressed by the evidence leader, he admitted these claims were based on hearsay, with no proof ever produced.

He also alleged that a Israeli group tried to use South African coal export channels via Richards Bay — claims he tied to broader foreign interference, again without evidence.

Mogotsi said he and others even opened a case against Mkhwanazi in Midrand, despite acknowledging the allegations had no factual basis.

He further connected these claims to South Africa’s litigation against Israel at the International Court of Justice, implying that their actions were intended to “block foreign interests.”

Mogotsi added that Prince Simakade had been in business discussions with Chinese partners seeking to establish a trading arrangement, but when that did not materialise, he believes foreign interests attempted to enter the market through Israel — allegedly using King Misuzulu and Mkhwanazi.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao