By Everson Luhanga
- Police searched businessman Brown Mogotsi’s Seweding village offices as part of a national corruption and interference investigation in the police service.
- The Madlanga Commission and Parliament are looking into claims that Mogotsi used his police contacts to get inside case information.
Police officers raided the Seweding village business of well-known North West businessman Brown Mogotsi this week.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the search. “The South African Police Service confirms that there is police presence at the business premises of Mr Brown Mogotsi in Seweding village in Mahikeng,” she said.
“This visit is part of an ongoing investigation that has already been discussed before the ad hoc committee and the Madlanga commission.”
The search comes as two major investigations are looking into corruption, power and interference inside the police service.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, is investigating claims of corruption and political meddling in police work. It was set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made serious claims about top officers and politicians interfering in police work.
At the same time, Parliament’s ad hoc committee is running its own investigation. Both groups are looking into claims that some businesspeople, including Mogotsi, used their connections to influence police investigations and get access to private case information.
Witnesses told the commission that Mogotsi had contact with senior police officers and knew details about “121 dockets” handled by the Political Killings Task Team.
The Madlanga Commission has sent Mogotsi a Rule 3 notice, giving him days to respond to claims of interference and links to organised crime.
Sources say police at his business may have been collecting documents and electronic devices to support witness claims already made to investigators.
Pictured above: ANC member and businessman Brown Mogotsi.
Image source: File
