By Palesa Matlala
- Brown Mogotsi stayed behind bars after the court postponed his case for seven days to verify his address before bail.
- Police say ballistic tests linked the gun used in the shooting of Mogotsi’s car to a murder in Eldorado Park and a robbery in Roodepoort.
North West businessman and African National Congress fixer Brown Mogotsi faces an uphill battle for bail after police linked the gun used in his suspected fake assassination attempt to two other violent crimes.
Mogotsi appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 May 2026, facing charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, firing a gun in a public place, defeating the ends of justice and perjury.
The State asked for a seven day postponement to verify his home address and prepare for a formal bail application.
The magistrate agreed and postponed the matter to Monday, 25 May 2026. Mogotsi remains behind bars.
The National Prosecuting Authority said it would act firmly against anyone accused of trying to interfere with the justice system.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said ballistic tests connected the gun used in the shooting of Mogotsi’s vehicle to an armed robbery in Roodepoort and a murder in Eldorado Park.
“Our ballistics report tells us that the firearm that was used on that particular evening, that shot into the vehicle of Mr Mogotsi, has been linked to other crimes as well,” said Mathe.
She said a motorist was robbed in Roodepoort in 2020 and a shot was fired during the attack. The victim survived and police opened armed robbery and attempted murder cases.
In 2021, a man in his thirties was shot dead at a drinking spot in Eldorado Park. Another person survived the attack.
Police are still searching for the firearm.
Mogotsi’s lawyer, Makau Sekgatja, argued that seven days was too long to verify the address, but the court refused to shorten the postponement.
Sekgatja admitted the charges against his client were serious.
“The charges are very serious, I won’t lie, especially the charges for possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition,” he said.
He said the charges carry a minimum sentence of 15 years if Mogotsi is convicted.
Mogotsi was arrested on Friday, 15 May 2026, shortly after appearing before the Madlanga Commission.
Sekgatja said his client was shocked by the arrest and had “hardly eaten since Friday”.
At the commission, Mogotsi failed in his bid to remove one of the evidence leaders. The commission also suggested he could face perjury and forgery charges linked to documents he submitted.
Mogotsi earlier told police that unknown gunmen ambushed him while he drove his red Chevrolet in Vosloorus. Police recovered 11 bullet casings at the scene.
“The evidence that we have contradicts what he’s saying,” said Mathe.
Police have not ruled out more arrests.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that he was not working alone,” she said.
Mathe also accused Mogotsi of failing to cooperate with investigators since the shooting in November 2025.
She said police officers repeatedly visited addresses given by Mogotsi but could not find him. She also said investigators struggled to get statements from him.
The case returns to court on Monday, 25 May 2026, for a formal bail application.
Pictured above: Brown Mokgotsi going down the dock at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Image source: Palesa Matlala
