By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Madlanga Commission of Inquiry began its second phase on Tuesday, 18 November, starting with the testimony of alleged criminal middleman and political influencer Brown Mogotsi.
On Monday evening, Jeremy Michaels, spokesperson for the commission, said Mogotsi would take the witness stand on 18 and 19 November.
“Starting on 18 November 2025, Phase Two will give Persons of Interest – individuals who have been implicated in Phase One – the opportunity to place before the commission their version of and/or response to the allegations.
“Phase Two will proceed to rigorously test the evidence presented in Phase One. Individuals and representatives of institutions have been invited or, where necessary, compelled to appear before the commission. Those implicated in Phase One will now, in Phase Two, have the opportunity to offer their explanations or refute the claims made against them, “he said.
All persons of interest in Phase Two who had furnished a statement to the commission would have the opportunity to take the commission through their statement without hostile questioning, Michaels said.
Mogotsi, once a lobbyist for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2017 ANC leadership bid, is accused of acting as a go-between for sidelined Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and alleged crime boss Vusimuzi Matlala.
Testifying on the first day of the commission’s phase two, which allows persons of interest to respond to allegations emerging from phase one, Mogotsi opened by saying he was recruited as a Crime Intelligence informant in 1999 and, a decade later, elevated to the role of contact agent.
He told the commission that he was a contact agent working for crime intelligence and was investigating suspicions that KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Misizulu KaZwelithini were agent for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
“We received information that the Richards Bay area — which is controlled by Israeli interests — had become a concern, as those interests feared South Africa might halt that trade. There is a mine there.
“The information we got suggested there was suspicion that Mkhwanazi had been recruited by the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA, and that he was actively working for them.
Mogotsi claimed that the late South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, also former Police Minister, had told him that he removed Mkhwanazi as an acting national police commissioner on suspicion that he might have been a CIA agent.
He also claimed he investigated businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala at the same time, saying Matlala confessed to paying Mkhwanazi money to solve his problems.
During his testimony he also alleged former police minister Bheki Cele received R2 million payment from Matlala, who he identified as “John Wick”.
The character John Wick is linked to a gang group 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 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 Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Khumalo, who is 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 admitted that Matlala paid around R150,000 into his fiancée’s business account, Kgotle, to cover travel, accommodation and other expenses for him and his handlers. Additional funding was allegedly used for ANC members travelling to Cape Town for the party’s January 8 celebrations.
Despite acknowledging the payments, he distanced himself from accounting for how the money was spent, saying his fiancée handled the company’s finances.
Throughout the session he repeatedly retreated from earlier claims, insisting he could not remember details or had merely “heard” the allegations from others.
Mogotsi said he had been recruited by former police lieutenant general Sindile Mfazi, who instructed him to investigate irregularities in crime intelligence within the South African Police Service (SAPS) as an informant. He said he uncovered officers buying vehicles and property using crime intelligence funds.
Mfazi died in 2021 – Mogotsi told the commission that his death was under investigation as a suspected poisoning.
He said his handler proposed that he speak to deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya for assistance in the crime intelligence investigation. Mogotsi told the commission his alleged association with Sibiya is work-related between a senior police officer and an informant.
He said he wanted to brief Sibiya about allegations regarding the chief financial officer of the SAPS, Philani Lushaba and a cover-up regarding the theft of his work firearm, laptop and phone by a sex worker.
He said they spoke over the phone twice and met in person in August 2024 to discuss Matlala’s police healthcare tender contract.
Sibiya has admitted to meeting with Matlala at his office while he was acting national commissioner. He told the ad hoc committee that Matlala had challenges regarding property lease issues related to his R360 million healthcare police contract and wanted assistance.