North West businessman and alleged information peddler, Brown Mogotsi, told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday that he found out about the December 31 letter penned by suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) through social media and not via any connection to Mchunu.
He defended his access to sensitive information of the SAPS and crime intelligence, disputing claims that it was due to his dubious relationships with senior police officers or government officials.
Mogotsi has been accused of leveraging his relationship with Mchunu to access police information and solicit funds from the embattled businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to fund ANC activities.
During his September appearance before the commission, KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi revealed that he only learned about the disbandment of the province’s PKTT on January 2, 2025.
Mkhwanazi expressed concern that Mogotsi seemed to have prior knowledge of the disbandment, raising questions about Mogotsi’s connections within the SAPS and government.
Mogotsi’s appearance on Tuesday marked phase two of the commission, where implicated individuals from phase one get to present their side of the story.
Asked if he had prior knowledge of the disbandment letter, he said the information on the PKTT was leaked on social media on January 1, 2025.
“Through the social media leak it came to my attention; it suited the circumstances and the furtherance of my engagement with Matlala, bolstering my credibility that I was in a position to inform him of the disbandment of the team before it was formally made public. The time of the year, New Year’s day, further aided my purpose as Matlala did not seem to have knowledge of the social media leak,” he said.
He said he informed Matlala about the letter because he knew he “would be very much interested and happy because he did get harassed by the PKTT and he did make reference that they assaulted his wife”.
He revealed that he was a contact agent working for crime intelligence and was investigating suspicions that Mkhwanazi was an agent for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
He claimed that the late South Africa’s ambassador to France Nathi Mthethwa, also a former Police Minister, had told him that he removed Mkhwanazi as an acting national police commissioner on the suspicion that he might have been a CIA agent.
He also claimed he concurrently probed Matlala on this claim, saying that Matlala allegedly confessed to him that he paid Mkhwanazi money to solve his problems.
He also alleged that former Police Minister Bheki Cele received a R2 million payment from Matlala, who he identified as “John Wick”.
The character John Wick is linked to a gang called Boko Haram, known for extorting money from local businesses people in Mamelodi township, Pretoria.
Mogotsi alleged Cele knew Matlala was “John Wick” since 2018, contradicting Cele’s claim he only met Matlala in 2024.
He claimed Cele was furnished with a report on Matlala’s alleged criminal involvement.
Mogotsi further alleged that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola expected R25 million, with R5 million already paid, and Cele allegedly demanded R8 million more.
He claimed that Cele and Masemola plotted to bring Cele back and fire suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo’s testimony last month revealed WhatsApp chats between Mogotsi and Matlala, showing alleged efforts to make payments to politicians, protect tenders and disband the PKTT.
Khumalo, who is the PKTT head, stated that Mogotsi used Matlala’s funds to cover expenses for ANC members during this year’s January 8 Statement celebrations in Khayelitsha, Western Cape.
He told the commission how Mogotsi’s connections to Matlala have raised concerns about potential corruption and undue influence, and that they shared classified SAPS documents.
Mogotsi said: “I was privy to sensitive information regarding the SAPS and crime intelligence, not because I had any dubious relationship with any senior police officers or persons in the public office but due to my involvement as a contact agent for the crime intelligence and through my vast network of informers and sources.”
He said Matlala wanted to meet Mchunu at the ANC’s January 8, 2025 celebration in Cape Town and had offered to subsidise ANC members’ travel to the event.
“He offered, in December 2024, to contribute to the event by subsidising ordinary ANC members from different parts of the country to be able to attend the ANC celebration,” Mogotsi said.
According to him, Matlala made a payment of R149,000 towards a company called Gotlhe Travel, a travel agent, run by Mogotsi’s fiancé.
In his testimony Khumalo alleged that Mogotsi pressured Matlala into depositing R37,000, which is 25% of the total amount of R140,000, into Gotlhe Travel during a WhatsApp conversation on Christmas Day.
The WhatsApp message from Mogotsi to Matlala read in part that “if you don’t make the payment by tomorrow, December 26, 2024, at noon we’ll have to prioritise the next available client”. Matlala subsequently paid an outstanding amount of R111,000.
Mogotsi’s testimony will continue on Wednesday.
