Staged or Real? Brown Mogotsi Says He’s Living in Fear After Alleged Vosloorus Shooting

Police say the businessman refused to open a case amid growing public scepticism

Controversial businessman Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi says he’s living in fear after an alleged assassination attempt in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg, but his reluctance to open a case has sparked growing speculation that the shooting might have been staged.

The Monday night incident, which unfolded around 10 p.m., left a red Chevrolet riddled with bullets on a quiet gravel road in Vosloorus. According to police, about eleven shell casings were found scattered at the scene. The car’s windows were shattered, and at least two bullets struck the driver’s seat, but Mogotsi somehow walked away unharmed.

Now, days later, the story has become less about the shooting itself and more about whether it happened the way Mogotsi says it did.

The Scene of the Shooting

When The Citizen visited the scene, the setting told its own story: an isolated area, dimly lit and far from the busy parts of Vosloorus, where few people venture at night.

Mogotsi claims that unknown gunmen in a white bakkie pulled up beside him and opened fire. Yet, police say there are glaring inconsistencies in his version, starting with the fact that he has not opened a formal case.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that Mogotsi initially promised to report to the Vosloorus Police Station at 8 a.m. the next morning but never showed up.

“He refused to open up a case last night, citing fears for his life,” said Mathe. “We are still waiting for him. We hope this incident was not staged; otherwise, he could face charges for defeating the ends of justice.”

Eyewitnesses Tell a Different Story

In a twist that deepened the mystery, local residents told The Sowetan they witnessed something very different that night.

One couple claimed they saw a red Chevrolet speeding off the road before it screeched to a halt in an open field. Moments later, they said, the driver himself exited the vehicle with a gun and fired shots into the air.

“My partner and I ran in different directions to seek refuge,” said a woman who lives nearby. “He [the driver] parked his car, got out with a gun, and fired shots.”

That account directly contradicts Mogotsi’s version and it’s one of the reasons police are treading carefully before declaring this a genuine assassination attempt.

“He Said Police Would Finish Him Off”

Another layer to the story emerged from residents who rushed to help after the gunfire. They say Mogotsi refused assistance, even when they offered to call the police.

“He said ‘no,’ stating that police were going to finish him off,” one resident told The Citizen, speaking on condition of anonymity.

His battered red Chevrolet has since been towed to the Vosloorus Police Station, where forensic experts and ballistic teams are combing through the evidence, including a mysterious white box found among the shattered glass on the passenger seat.

Who Is Brown Mogotsi?

Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi isn’t new to controversy. Known in political and business circles for his alleged connections to provincial power brokers, his name has surfaced before in relation to political deals, tender disputes, and local patronage networks.

That background and his apparent fear of both gangsters and police, adds another layer of intrigue to this unfolding drama.

Social media has been buzzing since news of the shooting broke. On X (formerly Twitter), some users expressed sympathy, while others mocked the situation. “Living in fear or living in drama?” one user posted. Another commented, “Only in South Africa does a man survive 11 bullets and refuse to open a case.”

Police Probe Continues Amid Unanswered Questions

Despite the confusion, police say a case of attempted murder has been registered, though Mogotsi’s official statement remains outstanding. Investigators are still trying to determine whether the gunfire came from assailants or from Mogotsi himself.

Until then, the mystery deepens: was this a botched hit, or a staged spectacle meant to send a message or hide something else entirely?

A Community Caught Between Fear and Doubt

Vosloorus residents are no strangers to gun violence, but this case feels different, more theatrical, more unsettling. It has sparked debate about trust in the justice system, political protection, and the blurred lines between real danger and performance.

For now, Brown Mogotsi remains out of the public eye, reportedly “in hiding.” But unless he returns to the police station and gives his version under oath, his story, like his bullet-riddled car will continue to raise more questions than answers.

As one local resident put it:

“We don’t know if he’s a victim or an actor, but either way, this is South Africa. Anything is possible.”