Brown Mogotsi to testify before MPs in person after security row

North West businessman Brown Mogotsi will appear in person before the Parliamentary Ad Hoc committee on Tuesday, after initially requesting to testify virtually, voicing security concerns.

Mogotsi had asked Parliament to cover the travel and accommodation costs of his personal security team as a condition of his appearance. 

The committee, which is investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system raised by KwaZulu-Natal’s top cop, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, rejected the request.

The committee then asked National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to issue a summons compelling Mogotsi’s physical appearance. 

However, Didiza declined, pointing to unresolved security concerns raised by the witness.

Mogotsi has been described as a go-between for former police minister Senzo Mchunu and alleged “Big Five cartel” member murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

When he appeared before the Madlanga Commission last year, Mogotsi made a series of explosive claims, delivering untested allegations reaching into the upper ranks of policing and national politics.

He claimed that he worked as a crime intelligence agent under a handler to gather information about South Africa’s underworld and said he had been an SAPS informant since 1999. 

He testified that he had acted as an uMkhonto we Sizwe operative and later worked inside crime intelligence, admitting he served as a recruited police contact agent.

He further claimed he tricked Mkhwanazi into believing he was an SAPS infiltrator, while in fact he was mandated to investigate the commissioner himself.

Mogotsi told the commission that Matlala claimed to have bribed Mkhwanazi at his Umhlanga Ridge home in July. 

He said he independently probed Matlala on the allegation and that Matlala allegedly confessed to paying Mkhwanazi to resolve his legal troubles.

He also alleged that national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola expected R25m, of which R5m had already been paid, and that former police minister Bheki Cele demanded a further R8m. 

According to Mogotsi, Cele and Masemola plotted to reinstate Cele and dismiss suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.

Mogotsi further claimed that the late former police minister and ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, told him he removed Mkhwanazi as acting national police commissioner on suspicion that he might have been a CIA agent.

Among the most controversial allegations was that Mkhwanazi and Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini were recruited by the CIA. 

Mogotsi said he received this information from a source, pointing to Misuzulu’s time living in the United States and Mkhwanazi’s alleged claims that he had been “trained by the Americans”.

However, he confirmed to the commission that his source provided no supporting evidence.

He also alleged that Mkhwanazi deployed members of the Political Killings Task Team to intimidate, harass and attempt to kill members of the royal house associated with AmaZulu Prince Simakade.

When asked by evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson whether his source had provided proof that Mkhwanazi and Misuzulu were CIA agents, Mogotsi said the information related to their treatment of Prince Simakade.

Meanwhile, Mogotsi is expected to address allegations that he acted as a “political fixer” who facilitated criminal infiltration and political interference.

The committee was originally scheduled to conclude its work by February 20. 

However, due to delays and a remaining list of witnesses, members have requested an extension until March 31, to complete the investigation.

IOL Politics