Mkhwanazi to shed more light on Mchunu, Brown Mogotsi ties
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is expected to hear further testimony from KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Friday, with his evidence set to centre on controversial businessman Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi.
Mkhwanazi has accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of questionable ties with Mogotsi, whom he described as an “associate”.
Mogotsi is linked to criminal syndicates, political interference, and the misuse of police resources.
READ: DA opens case against ‘deliberately lying’ Mchunu
https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/mchunu-denies-association-matlala-knows-mogotsicomrade/
During his testimony on Thursday, Mkhwanazi told the commission that Mogotsi once contacted him directly on WhatsApp, sending a message that reflected his proximity to Mchunu.
The businessman allegedly included a photograph of an occurrence nook from the Empangeni police station, which is less than five kilometres from Mchunu’s home.
Mkhwanazi further alleged that Mogotsi leaked classified police documents, interfered with high-profile investigations, and positioned himself as a link between politicians and underworld figures such as businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
He told the commission that phone records showed Mogotsi attempted to call Matlala several times on 6 July—the same day Mkhwanazi went public with his explosive allegations of corruption at a press briefing.
According to Mkhwanazi, Mogotsi’s influence extended into the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, which at the time had more than 120 active dockets.
He argued that the decision shielded both political leaders and criminal suspects from accountability.
Mogotsi has long been a controversial figure. Reports show that his criminal record stretches back to the late 1990s, with charges including assault, theft, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice.
Despite this, he has previously claimed to have worked as an informant for police crime intelligence, though these claims have never been verified.
In his defence, Mogotsi has dismissed Mkhwanazi’s testimony as ill-timed and politically motivated. He claims he has been followed, his phones tampered with, and insists he is now prepared to “tell all” before the commission.
For his part, Mchunu has denied the allegations, saying that while Mogotsi is his comrade, he has never sought nor received favours from him. However, his version has been disputed.
READ MORE: Mchunu denies association with Matlala, knows Mogotsi as ‘a comrade’
Earlier this year, the Democratic Alliance laid criminal charges against Mchunu for allegedly misleading Parliament about his connection to Mogotsi. Mchunu initially denied knowing him, before later conceding that they were “comrades".
Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, who chairs the inquiry, is expected to test Mkhwanazi’s evidence, including WhatsApp threads, call logs, and internal police documents, to determine whether Mogotsi’s alleged influence compromised law enforcement in KwaZulu-Natal and enabled political killings.
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