North West businessman and self-styled intelligence operative Brown Mogotsi returned to the witness stand on Thursday at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC continued a relentless cross-examination that has left Mogotsi’s credibility in tatters.
The day began with Chaskalson confronting Mogotsi over glaring inconsistencies in his personal records: his date of birth appears as 1975, 1977, and 1979 in different official documents. When asked how this was possible, Mogotsi blamed a Home Affairs error but offered no satisfactory explanation, prompting sharp criticism from evidence commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi about the need for basic factual accuracy.
Chaskalson then turned to Mogotsi’s alleged conversations with underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Mogotsi claimed Matlala had confessed to paying a R500,000 bribe to KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi shortly after a July 6 press briefing. Chaskalson pointed out that Matlala’s phone had been seized by police weeks earlier, making the timing of the alleged call impossible. Mogotsi appeared flustered and could not reconcile the contradiction.
The commission also heard Mogotsi admit he does not hold a matric certificate and struggles to read complex legal documents, which he said had caused delays in his various court applications. He insisted, however, that his lack of formal education did not invalidate his intelligence work or the explosive allegations he has levelled against senior police officials and even Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
Wednesday’s session had already seen Chaskalson accuse Mogotsi of perjury after he conceded he had lied under oath in previous affidavits to authorise covert operations. Chaskalson described Mogotsi as a “professional liar” whose training in Umkhonto we Sizwe and Crime Intelligence had equipped him with deception skills he now appeared to be deploying before the commission.
Throughout the morning, Baloyi repeatedly urged Mogotsi to produce verifiable evidence rather than what she called “Hollywood-style narratives”. Mogotsi maintained that his testimony constituted protected whistleblowing and that some details were classified, but he has so far failed to submit any documents or recordings to support his claims of CIA recruitment, political plots, or assassination attempts.
The Madlanga Commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Zak Yacoob, is investigating allegations of corruption, criminality, and political interference in the South African Police Service. Mogotsi’s appearance has raised serious questions about the vetting and oversight of Crime Intelligence operatives, as well as the potential misuse of state resources for personal or factional agendas.
Proceedings continue, with the commission expected to press Mogotsi further on his recruitment into Crime Intelligence and his involvement in a R72 million North West tender scandal that is already under Hawks investigation.