Madlanga Commission | Mogotsi files for Chaskalson’s recusal

Controversial North West businessman, Brown Mogotsi, has filed a formal complaint seeking the recusal of evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson at the Madlanga Commission.

It is understood that Mogotsi submitted an affidavit over the weekend, forming the basis of his recusal application.

Mogotsi’s attorney, Makaula Sekgatja, confirmed that a formal application will be filed on Wednesday.

“Chair we do confirm that there is an intended application for the recusal of Mr. Chaskalson as evidence leader in relation to the evidence of Mr. Mogotsi. I am not sure if the commission has already received the suplementary affidavit,” said Sekgatja.

Mogotsi is expected back at the commission on 15 May, when the recusal application is scheduled to be heard.

Meanwhile, North West businessman, Suleiman Carrim, has submitted a medical certificate stating that he is confined to bed due to a medical condition, just hours before he was due to testify.

Carrim, who was initially expected to resume his testimony on 16 April, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest a few days earlier and was hospitalised.

Following the development, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson proposed that Carrim’s matter be stood down.

“Mr. Carrim was due to appear tomorrow. We received a medical certificate indicating that he is confined to bed. We were then hoping to proceed with Mr. Mogotsi tomorrow but he’s secured a postponement to file for my recusal so we no longer have a witness for tomorrow so we will have to resume on Thursday,” he said.

Dlamini admits meeting Gubis 85 representatives

Suspended Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) Deputy Chief of Police, Umashi Dhlamini, on Tuesday admitted to meeting representatives of Gubis85 Security Solutions Pty Ltd, telling the commission the engagement was related to an unpaid invoice.

Dlamini testified that an individual known only as “Kane” arranged the meeting to discuss outstanding payment issues, later bringing in suspended Tshwane CFO, Gareth Mnisi, to assist.

However, he acknowledged that procurement-related disputes are typically handled internally within TMPD, not escalated externally.

“Kane never explained in detail. I only got to understand when we were in a meeting what is their request,” said Dhlamini.

However, Commissioner Sesi Baloyi challenged this explanation, questioning why the CFO was involved if the details were unclear.

“If Kane doesn’t give you the details of what Gubis wants to discuss with you and therefore you don’t know what Gubis wants to discuss with you, then why do you involve the CFO? I want to suggest to you that the reason you would involve the CFO is because you knew from Kane what they wanted to discuss and you felt it’s relevant to the CFO,” Baloyi put to him.

Dhlamini has also denied allegations that he assisted suspended SAPS sergeant, Fannie Nkosi, in securing a tender for his brother’s company, despite Whatsapp exchanges suggesting otherwise.

The commission heard that Nkosi has requested assistance from Dhlamini to verify compliance for Ngapesheya Security Services under a TMPD ad hoc tender.

While Dhlamini denied wrongdoing, evidence presented included messages allegedly showing him sharing tender documents with Nkosi and another individual known as Nico.

“I just wanted to express to you that I had no role with Gubis or whatsoever to be in a position to assist,” said Dhlamini.

Chaskalson, however, challenged this version.

“But they have been trying to reach you and to get you to do something which you treated as the function of the CFO or preserved for the CFO; the protocol demanded that the CFO intervene,” he said.

The commission also heard that Gubis85 was awarded the TMPD tender despite allegedly failing to meet several mandatory compliance requirements.

Proceedings are set to resume on Thursday.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao