Madlanga Commission gives Brown Mogotsi five days to respond to serious allegations

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has formally implicated Brown Mogotsi, a North West businessman with alleged close ties to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, in a growing scandal involving criminal interference and political protection networks.

According to media reports, the Commission issued a Rule 3 notice to Mogotsi, officially notifying him that evidence submitted to the inquiry places him at the heart of serious allegations. 

These allegations include unlawful interference in SAPS operations, associations with organised crime, and a potentially strategic relationship with Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is currently on leave of absence.

The notice, dated October 7, outlined the gravity of the claims and informed Mogotsi of his right to respond.

He has been given five days to file an affidavit, presenting his version of events.

However, the Commission’s chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, retained the legal authority to compel him to appear or respond, regardless of his willingness.

According to the Commission, the evidence against Mogotsi includes:

- Alleged involvement in decisions affecting the integrity of the SAPS.

- Possible collusion with criminal networks to influence SAPS structures.

- A suspected role in shielding illicit operations through political connections.

This comes after Mogotsi was exposed through WhatsApp messages at the commission of how he used his ties to the ANC to get money from criminals for his benefit. Some monies were used to fund ANC activities.

A trail of WhatsApp messages at the commission laid bare how Matlala paid hundreds of thousands of rands to Mogotsi for protection and also access to classified documents from the SAPS.

However, Mogotsi said that he was ready to appear before the commission if summoned to testify in detail about his involvement in the saga.

This follows the temporary suspension of Minister Senzo Mchunu, who faces allegations that he dissolved the elite Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) — a unit tasked with investigating politically motivated assassinations — allegedly to protect drug trafficking cartels and politically connected crime syndicates.

The commission was established to investigate widespread allegations of criminality, political interference, and systemic corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

IOL has sent further questions to the commission and the story will be updated.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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