Brown Mogotsi Blames ‘Knee-Jerk’ Police Moves, Denies Big Five Cartel

In a dramatic session at the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday, self-described undercover operative Oupa Brown Mogotsi painted a very different picture of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive 6 July media briefing, one that challenges the official narrative around political killings and organized crime in the province.

Mkhwanazi had centered his media briefing on the alleged disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and claims that rogue elements had infiltrated policing and the justice system. Mogotsi, however, told the commission that this was largely a smokescreen.

PKTT Disbandment? Not Quite

The supposed disbandment of the PKTT traces back to a letter issued by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on 31 December 2024. Mogotsi said he first saw the document on social media and used it strategically to impress controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who had previously clashed with the PKTT.

“It suited the circumstances and the furtherance of my engagements with Matlala, bolstering my credibility that I was in a position to inform him of the disbandment of the task team prior to it being formally made public,” Mogotsi explained.

Despite the letter, the PKTT continued to operate, raising questions about whether Mkhwanazi’s public statements were necessary or accurate.

A ‘Knee-Jerk’ Response

Mogotsi testified that the real trigger for Mkhwanazi’s media briefing was frustration and anger over the arrests of Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and his colleagues, rather than the PKTT’s status.

“I knew a press conference was going to be held by Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi before it happened. Based on the level of anger, I initially believed Mkhwanazi intended to resign,” Mogotsi said.

He characterized the briefing as a “knee-jerk” response, noting that even revered leaders like Nelson Mandela never held press conferences flanked by armed personnel a subtle rebuke of Mkhwanazi’s dramatic approach.

Debunking the ‘Big Five’ Narrative

One of the most explosive parts of Mogotsi’s testimony was his dismissal of the so-called Big Five cartel, which had been suggested as a shadowy crime syndicate influencing KZN’s underworld.

“They are using this tactic of misdirection,” Mogotsi said bluntly, asserting that arrests of figures like Matlala and murder-accused businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe would have occurred regardless of PKTT’s status.

Mogotsi also criticized the task team itself, calling it a “police mafia cartel” and accusing its members of avoiding accountability.

Playing the Game: Inside Crime Intelligence

Mogotsi painted himself as a covert operator navigating complex underworld and police networks. He admitted to forwarding Mchunu’s leaked letter to Matlala to gain trust and to give the impression he had high-level contacts. He stressed that he was never personally associated with Minister Mchunu, despite what Matlala may have been led to believe.

He also recounted attempts to give Mkhwanazi the impression that he had accompanied Mchunu to Lusikisiki after a deadly mass shooting a trip Mogotsi said never happened, intended purely to solidify trust.

A Window into KwaZulu-Natal Policing Culture

The session offers a rare glimpse into the opaque world of South African crime intelligence and policing politics. Mogotsi’s testimony suggests that public scandals and dramatic media appearances may often be motivated by internal frustrations and political posturing rather than concrete operational failures.

Observers have noted that Mogotsi’s insider perspective raises questions about transparency, accountability, and the real drivers of law enforcement decisions in KZN.

Public Reaction and Social Media Buzz

On social media, Mogotsi’s statements have sparked heated debate. Users expressed skepticism about claims of high-level conspiracies and frustration over repeated portrayals of KZN police operations as chaotic:

• “So the Big Five is just a myth? Sounds like more smoke and mirrors than real policing.”

• “KZN police need accountability, but we also need clarity on who is telling the truth.”

Some commentators welcomed the commission’s scrutiny, saying it provides much-needed insight into how policing, politics, and organized crime intersect in South Africa.

The Madlanga Commission continues to unravel complex narratives surrounding political killings, crime intelligence, and alleged cartels. Mogotsi’s testimony adds new layers of nuance, questioning official claims and revealing the high-stakes chessboard behind media briefings and arrests.

Whether his insights will shift the commission’s conclusions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: in South Africa’s policing and political arenas, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.