North West businessman Brown Mogotsi, who makes explosive corruption allegations against senior police and political figures, is due to testify in person before a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
North West businessman Brown Mogotsi is appearing in person before a parliamentary ad hoc committee on Tuesday after initially requesting to testify virtually, due to security concerns.
Mogotsi previously asked Parliament to cover the travel and accommodation costs of his personal security team as a condition of his appearance.
The committee, investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system raised by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, rejected the request.
The committee then asks National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to issue a summons compelling Mogotsi’s physical appearance. Didiza declines, citing unresolved security concerns raised by the witness.
Mogotsi is described as a go-between the now-suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu and alleged “Big Five cartel” member Vusimuzi Matlala, also known as “Cat.”
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 says he works as a crime intelligence agent under a handler to gather information about South Africa’s underworld and that he has been a South African Police Service (SAPS) informant since 1999.
He testifies that he acts as an uMkhonto we Sizwe operative and later works inside crime intelligence, admitting he serves as a recruited police contact agent.
He further claims he tricks Mkhwanazi into believing he is an SAPS infiltrator while, in fact, he is mandated to investigate the commissioner himself.
Mogotsi told the commission that Matlala claims to have bribed Mkhwanazi at his Umhlanga Ridge home in July.
He said he independently probes Matlala on the allegation and that Matlala allegedly confesses to paying Mkhwanazi to resolve his legal troubles.
He also alleges that national police commissioner Fannie Masemola expects R25 million, of which R5 million has already been paid, and that former police minister Bheki Cele demands a further R8 million.
According to Mogotsi, Cele and Masemola plot to reinstate Cele and dismiss suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
Mogotsi further claims that the late former police minister and ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, tells him he removes Mkhwanazi as acting national police commissioner on suspicion that he might have been a CIA agent.
Among the most controversial allegations is that Mkhwanazi and Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini are recruited by the CIA.
Mogotsi says he receives this information from a source, pointing to Misuzulu’s time living in the United States and Mkhwanazi’s alleged claims that he has been “trained by the Americans”.
However, he confirms to the commission that his source provides no supporting evidence.
He also alleges that Mkhwanazi deploys 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 provides proof that Mkhwanazi and Misuzulu are CIA agents, Mogotsi says the information relates to their treatment of Prince Simakade.
Meanwhile, Mogotsi is expected to address allegations that he acts as a “political fixer” who facilitates 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 request an extension until March 31 to complete the investigation.
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