By Johnathan Paoli
Controversial North West businessman and political fixer Brown Mogotsi has been arrested for allegedly staging an attempted assassination on his life in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni.
In November 2025, Mogotsi claimed he had been ambushed in Vosloorus when about 11 bullets struck the vehicle he was travelling in with a passenger.
A SAPS multidisciplinary team executed a J50 warrant of arrest on Friday evening, arresting Mogotsi on a charge of defeating the ends of justice.
He was arrested shortly after appearing before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and while allegedly travelling back to Mahikeng in the North West.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the firearm allegedly used in the incident has also been linked to other serious violent crimes, including murder and attempted murder cases.
Mogotsi is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 May 2026.
His arrest came hours after a tense appearance before the Madlanga Commission, where he repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination as evidence leaders presented affidavits disputing his long-standing claims that he operated as a Crime Intelligence agent.
The commission proceedings unfolded after Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Madlanga dismissed Mogotsi’s application to have chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson recused.
Mogotsi accused Chaskalson of bias, alleging that he pressured him to implicate North West businessman Suleiman Carrim and unfairly labelled him a “professional liar” during earlier testimony.
Delivering the ruling, Madlanga said reasons for the dismissal would be provided next week or the week thereafter.
Mogotsi’s lawyer, Advocate Nthabiseng Mohomane, told the commission her client intended taking the decision on review.
“We thought it prudent to bring it to the attention of the commission,” Mohomane said.
Madlanga ruled that, in the absence of an interdict, proceedings would continue.
Returning to the witness stand, Mogotsi complained about the handling of the recusal application and the treatment of his legal team.
He objected to being labelled a liar, insisting he had previously stated that aspects of his testimony would require corroboration.
Tensions escalated when Chaskalson resumed questioning Mogotsi about his links to suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya and other senior law enforcement figures.
Chaskalson warned Mogotsi that refusing to answer questions could amount to an offence under the commission’s regulations.
Mogotsi, however, maintained his position.
“I have gone through those rules, and as a layman, I may not have a full comprehension as to how they work. My legal team will deal with that, but I am not going to incriminate myself,” he said.
After a brief adjournment to consult his lawyers, Mogotsi agreed to continue answering questions, saying he understood the potential consequences of refusing to testify.
The commission then heard evidence contradicting Mogotsi’s earlier claims that he had worked as a Crime Intelligence contact agent since 1999.
An affidavit from a senior Crime Intelligence official responsible for undercover operations stated that Mogotsi had never been registered as an undercover agent within SAPS.
A second affidavit, submitted by an official overseeing the secret service account, described Mogotsi not as an agent but as an informant.
According to the affidavit, Mogotsi was registered as an informant on 9 January 2001 and deregistered on 20 August that year. He allegedly received R1,200 as a recruitment fee and had two co-handlers.
Mogotsi declined to comment on the contents of the affidavits.
The commission also revisited admissions made by Mogotsi during earlier testimony involving ANC-linked businessman Suleiman Carrim.
Mogotsi conceded that he had lied under oath about a supposed meeting involving himself, Carrim and businessman Morgan Maumela, who has been linked to the controversial R2 billion Tembisa Hospital scandal.
“I began by suggesting he ask about a meeting between myself, Morgan Maumela and Suleiman, a meeting which never took place,” Mogotsi said.
Chaskalson suggested Mogotsi’s conduct formed part of an alleged effort to implicate Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.
He further put it to Mogotsi that the alleged operation may also have involved Sibiya, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu or Crime Intelligence head Feroz Khan.
Evidence leader Adila Hassim earlier urged the commission to consider referring Mogotsi for possible criminal charges, including perjury, on the basis that he may have given false testimony under oath.
Proceedings adjourned for the day and are expected to resume at the beginning of June.
An interim report is due to be submitted to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the end of May.
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