Bridget Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria hosting Phase 2 of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Political Killings and Police Criminality turned into a pressure cooker on Thursday as controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi, who styles himself as a high-level undercover operative, visibly crumbled during his third consecutive day on the stand.
Mogotsi spent hours sighing audibly, rubbing his temples and scratching his head in clear frustration as Chief Evidence Leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson methodically tore apart his testimony. The self-proclaimed Crime Intelligence “agent” has previously made explosive allegations involving the CIA, multi-million-rand bribes, and attempts to collapse the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal. On Thursday, however, he struggled to provide basic answers.
At one point, Justice Zak Yacoob Madlanga, chairing the commission, lost patience with Mogotsi’s long-winded deflections. “We’ve had a lot of time to listen to you explain,” the judge said sharply. “Now I need you to respond with a yes or no: is the oath you just took here binding on your conscience?” Mogotsi eventually muttered an affirmative, but the exchange underscored the commission’s growing scepticism.
Chaskalson confronted Mogotsi with downloaded WhatsApp and Telegram screenshots showing frequent contact with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Mogotsi claimed he could not remember the content of numerous calls and messages, offering only that “it must have been about politics” or community requests for meetings with the minister, who sits on the ANC’s National Executive Committee.
The evidence leader then produced messages in which Mogotsi appeared to be updating alleged North West criminal kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala almost simultaneously. Mogotsi has repeatedly changed his description of Matlala – first calling him a close friend, later insisting he was merely a “project” assigned by Crime Intelligence for investigation. No proof of any official assignment or informant registration has been produced despite repeated requests.
Contradictions piled up. Mogotsi flatly denied ever facilitating meetings between Minister Mchunu and Matlala – a claim directly contradicted on Wednesday by Mchunu’s Chief of Staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, who told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that he had personally arranged such meetings at Mogotsi’s request.
Chaskalson accused Mogotsi and suspended SAPS deputy national commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya of working together to have the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team disbanded, allegedly to relieve investigative pressure on Matlala and other connected figures. “Your entire story is fanciful,” Chaskalson told him. “You have produced zero corroborating evidence for any of your sensational claims.”
Throughout the day, Mogotsi’s demeanour deteriorated. When proceedings were finally adjourned until Tuesday, 25 November, he appeared visibly relieved, muttering in Setswana as he left the witness box: “Tjo, ke utlwile hle” – roughly translated as “I’m overwhelmed” or “I’ve really felt it.”
The commission indicated that Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala will not return immediately but on a later date to be communicated to his legal team and the public. Observers noted that Mogotsi’s performance has severely damaged his credibility and raised fresh questions about how individuals with no verifiable police status gained access to ministers and senior SAPS officials.
Legal analysts say Thursday’s testimony could have far-reaching consequences for figures linked to the North West underworld and for the credibility of political interference claims inside the police service. For now, Brown Mogotsi leaves the commission limping – a self-declared master spy whose cover, if it ever existed, appears to have been blown wide open.