“He Called Me First”: Brown Mogotsi Breaks Silence on Explosive Police Task Team Allegations

Businessman denies claims of political interference as tensions mount within SAPS and ANC

Brown Mogotsi, a businessman from the North West and self-proclaimed “comrade” of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, has hit back at bombshell allegations linking him to the disbandment of KwaZulu-Natal’s Political Killings Task Team. In an exclusive SABC interview, Mogotsi labelled the claims made by KZN’s provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, as badly timed and misleading.

“The timing is very inappropriate,” Mogotsi said. “He called me just before the press conference. We spoke about the state of the country, and now he’s painting me as part of some criminal network?”

The explosive fallout follows Mkhwanazi’s recent media briefing, where he accused high-ranking political and police figures, including Mchunu and Mogotsi, of orchestrating the March 2025 disbandment of a task team that had been investigating politically motivated assassinations.

Allegations Rock Law Enforcement

At the heart of Mkhwanazi’s allegations is a coordinated effort to protect powerful figures allegedly linked to organised crime. He claims that Minister Mchunu ordered the withdrawal of 121 active dockets, many tied to political hits, shortly after the unit made breakthroughs in major Gauteng-based murders.

Mogotsi is accused of having direct contact with Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala—who secured a controversial R360 million police contract and allegedly assured him via WhatsApp that the unit had been shut down. Mkhwanazi says he has forensic evidence, including internal SAPS communications and cellphone data, that ties Mogotsi, Matlala, and Mchunu to a campaign to undermine the investigations.

He didn’t stop there: financial transactions allegedly link the three to political events and a high-profile gala dinner.

Mogotsi: “I’m Not a Cop, I’m a Comrade”

In the interview, Mogotsi insisted he is not part of SAPS and denied ever receiving classified police information from Minister Mchunu. “No, I’m not a police officer. I’ve been around, my underground experience or operations will be revealed on the right platform,” he hinted cryptically.

He also claimed that any information he had did not come from Mchunu but from other sources. “This environment, information comes to you,” he said.

Mchunu’s Changing Story Raises Eyebrows

Mchunu himself is under pressure. In March, he told Parliament he didn’t know Mogotsi. But on July 9, he acknowledged him as “just a comrade,” insisting there were no favours or transactions between them.

That about-face has fueled suspicions, particularly among opposition parties who have now called for Mchunu’s dismissal. The Democratic Alliance says President Cyril Ramaphosa must show the same decisiveness he displayed when removing Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield over an unauthorised international trip.

SAPS Chain of Command Under Fire

Mogotsi also fired back at the police, questioning the internal structure and singling out Major General Philani Lushaba. He accused Lushaba of opening a bogus housebreaking case to cover up an incident involving a state laptop and phone taken by a woman from a nightclub.

Meanwhile, IOL recently reported that Lushaba went off the radar just as the NPA’s Investigating Directorate sought to question him about two suspicious property deals worth over R45 million.

Mogotsi: “This Was a Setup”

Mogotsi strongly suggests that Mkhwanazi’s briefing was politically motivated. “He mentioned something about a J-50 warrant and saving the country. But then two days later, I’m part of a so-called syndicate?”

He didn’t deny speaking with Mkhwanazi, but he questioned the sudden decision to go public only after the arrest of five generals and several brigadiers. “Why now?” he asked.

What’s Next: Presidential Response Expected

With public pressure mounting, President Ramaphosa is scheduled to address the nation at 7pm on Sunday, and all eyes will be on how he responds to the scandal unfolding in both the police and political spheres.

This scandal touches on the very institutions meant to uphold the rule of law. If Mkhwanazi’s allegations hold water, it could confirm the worst fears about organised crime seeping into the upper ranks of South Africa’s security and political systems.

But if it’s political theatre or factional score-settling, it risks further damaging trust in a country already rattled by corruption fatigue.

Either way, Sunday night’s speech from the president is shaping up to be more than just a formality, it could determine the future direction of the ANC, SAPS, and the battle to reclaim justice in South Africa.

{Source: IOL}

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