By Johnathan Paoli
Madlanga Commission chairman Mbuyiseli Madlanga on Wednesday criticised the “useless” medical certificate submitted by Brown Mogotsi before postponing the controversial businessman’s testimony to a later date.
Opening the session, evidence leader advocate Thabang Pooe told the commission Mogotsi had missed his Monday appearance due to illness.
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“A sick note was provided to us, or a medical certificate was provided to us by the close of business day, indicating that he would be fit to resume his duties after the 3rd of March,” Pooe said.
She said Mogotsi had been asked to appear on Wednesday to account to the commission, and that his testimony would then be shifted to a date next week.
But retired justice Madlanga said the commission was increasingly concerned about a growing number of medical certificates submitted by witnesses at short notice, which he said was disrupting the inquiry’s programme.
“It looks like we’ve reached a stage where we are getting quite a few of these medical certificates, and this is quite bothersome. It impacts negatively on the commission’s scheduling, because once we do not have a witness, and we usually get to know of that on the day, we lose time,” he said.
He said the inquiry was operating under tight deadlines and that certificates provided to the commission were often unhelpful.
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“The commission has very limited time to do its investigation, do and finalise its investigation, and the medical certificates we get basically say nothing,” he added.
Madlanga said the commission was considering escalating the matter by referring certificates to the body regulating the medical profession to assess whether they were medically sound, and could summon the issuing doctor to explain the condition in a closed sitting to address confidentiality concerns.
“We are not going to sit here and continue receiving useless medical certificates like the last one was, and like yours appears to be,” Madlanga said.
Mogotsi apologised and tried to explain his illness.
“Coming back from Cape Town, since Friday, I was not okay. Like you say, confidentiality of the illness, but mine, I just had a lot of pressure, more like a diarrhoea. I was so sick. I’m still not well,” Mogotsi said.
Asked whether he objected to the certificate being referred to the medical council, Mogotsi said he had no objection.
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“The hearing of your testimony is postponed to a date to be determined at a later stage,” Madlanga said.
The suspended head of SAPS organised crime, Major-General Richard Shibiri, is expected to testify next.
