Madlanga Commission | Brown Mogotsi’s ‘no evidence’ testimony falls apart

Intense cross-questioning at the Madlanga Commission got CI Agent Brown Mogotsi, admitting that he made baseless allegations about KZN Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, receiving “an amount” from cartel tycoon, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Mogotsi, testifying on Wednesday, repeatedly failed to provide documentary proof or corroborating testimony for serious accusations he had circulated within intelligence structures and restated before the commission.

Co-commissioner Sesi Baloyi SC sharply confronted him for using the inquiry to advance allegations without an evidentiary basis, warning him about the real-world implications of his claims.

“We should be concerned that you may be using this platform… to make allegations that you are not backing up,” she said.

She pressed him on assertions that Mkhwanazi had received “an amount” from Matlala, a claim Mogotsi ultimately conceded he could not substantiate.

Mogotsi also alleged that Matlala had described National Police Commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola and former police minister Bheki Cele were described as “very ungrateful,” claiming the pair expected large sums of money from him.

According to Mogotsi, Masemola allegedly sought R25 million and had already received R5 million, while Cele purportedly took R2 million and demanded an additional R8 million.

Mogotsi further claimed the men were plotting a political comeback strategy to reinstate Cele as police minister and remove suspended deputy minister Shadrack Sibiya.

Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC challenged Mogotsi sharply, saying his conduct was the opposite of professional, especially given his intelligence role.

Chaskalson dismantled several conspiracy-driven claims, including Mogotsi’s assertion that Mkhwanazi and Zulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini were part of a geopolitical contest over coal in Richards Bay.

Chaskalson noted there was no coal mine in Richards Bay, a fact Mogotsi conceded, shifting the location to Mpumalanga.

“Thank you, I can rephrase that and put it into context,” Mogotsi responded.

He also dismissed Mogotsi’s claims that the Israeli government owned an offtake stake in the coal and that the terminal faced imminent shutdown, noting that the South African government has poured hundreds of millions of rands into upgrading the rail corridor to the port.

The commission also questioned Mogotsi’s description of Mkhwanazi’s 6 July press briefing as akin to a coup, which he defended as “highly unusual” and evidence, he claimed, of Masemola’s tacit support for the KZN commissioner.

Baloyi reiterated that any further accusations must be backed with verifiable proof, while Chaskalson requested a supplementary statement on additional matters raised.

Mogotsi is scheduled to continue his testimony on Thursday.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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