Controversial North West businessman Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi testified before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System (chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga) at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria. This marked the start of Phase 2 of the commission’s proceedings. Mogotsi, accused of serving as a middleman between suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and alleged crime syndicate leader Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, made several explosive claims during his testimony led by chief evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC. Your query appears to reference key elements of his statements, including his dismissal of prior evidence as “concocted lies” and his self-revelation as a long-term Crime Intelligence agent. Below, I’ll break down the relevant details based on reports from the day’s proceedings.
Mogotsi’s Claim of Being a Crime Intelligence Agent
Mogotsi positioned himself as a credible insider by detailing his alleged history in intelligence work:
- Early Involvement: He claimed to have served in uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), the ANC’s former armed wing, from 1993 to 1995, focusing on counter-intelligence and self-defense units.
- SAPS Informant Role: In 1999, he was officially registered as an informant for the South African Police Service (SAPS). By 2009, he advanced to a “contact agent” (or co-agent) within the Crime Intelligence division.
- Role Description: As a contact agent, Mogotsi said his duties included gathering intelligence on South Africa’s underworld, cultivating informant networks, relaying information to a “handler,” and maintaining secrecy in communications. He emphasized that uniform policing and covert operations are strictly separated in SAPS, with Crime Intelligence handling agents exclusively. He confirmed receiving payments for both informant and agent roles.
- Handler and Operations: He worked undercover through a handler to infiltrate criminal networks, including those linked to Matlala (whom he identified as the notorious “John Wick” figure terrorizing Pretoria communities, based on a 2018 Crime Intelligence dossier presented to then-Police Minister Bheki Cele).
This self-disclosure aligns with your query’s “bombshell claim” and is intended to lend weight to his subsequent allegations. However, KZN Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi previously testified in September 2025 that Mogotsi is not a registered Crime Intelligence informant, describing him instead as someone “privy to secret information” without official ties.
Dismissal of Prior Evidence as “Concocted Lies”
Mogotsi directly challenged evidence presented earlier at the Madlanga Commission and on July 6, 2025 (likely referring to a specific hearing or related SAPS briefing, possibly tied to the disbanding of the KZN political killings task team):
- He labeled much of it as “concocted lies” fabricated to undermine figures like Mchunu and himself.
- Lack of His Own Evidence: When pressed, Mogotsi admitted he could not yet provide substantiation for many claims, stating that “most of it will not be admissible in court” due to its sensitive, classified nature (e.g., intelligence sources and methods). He promised to submit supporting documents later but offered no immediate proof during the session.
- Context: This comes amid prior testimony from Crime Intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo (September 2025), who presented WhatsApp exchanges showing Mogotsi’s communications with Matlala, alleging funding for ANC activities and Mchunu’s ambitions. Mogotsi countered that such links were misrepresented or invented.
Other Key Allegations
Mogotsi’s testimony extended to broader conspiracy claims, which he attributed to unnamed sources:
- CIA Links: He alleged that KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini were recruited as agents by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He tied this to uninvestigated cases of intimidation and attempted murder against Prince Simakade (King Misuzulu’s brother), claiming SAPS inaction under Mkhwanazi’s influence.
- Bribes and Corruption: Mogotsi accused Matlala of bribing Mkhwanazi R500,000 at his uMhlanga Ridge home in July 2025. He also reiterated that Matlala funded Mchunu’s political activities via himself as a conduit, including classified intelligence in exchange.
- Recent Events: He referenced surviving an alleged assassination attempt in Vosloorus (early November 2025), which he linked to his intelligence work, though SAPS has questioned its legitimacy due to lack of forensics.
Commission Response and Broader Context
- The commission has not yet ruled on Mogotsi’s credibility, but Justice Madlanga has previously criticized procedural irregularities (e.g., transferring 121 KZN dockets to Pretoria as “nonsensical”).
- Mogotsi’s two-day testimony (continuing November 19) is central to probes into the disbanding of the KZN task team on political killings, which Mkhwanazi blamed on Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya’s alleged criminal ties.
- SAPS has raided Mogotsi’s businesses amid separate criminal probes, and Mchunu denies close ties, calling him merely a “comrade.”
These claims remain unverified and highly contentious, with no independent corroboration provided.
