Brown Mogotsi, who is scheduled to testify before the Madlanga commission on Tuesday (18/11) and Wednesday (19/11), has been repeatedly mentioned at both the commission and the ad hoc committee investigating criminality within the justice system.

Mogotsi himself has been linked to police officers accused of corruption, though he maintains that his testimony is aimed at exposing wrongdoing within the system. He testified a confidential source informed him that Cele had an interest in a tender worth hundreds of millions.

“When the information comes and says this company has been awarded a R360 million tender, and the source says I can tell you Minister Bhek Cele is having an interest in the particular tender. The tender was awarded during the tenure of Minister Bheki Cele. 

“I’m going to take this opportunity, commissioner, just to reference what the former minister said in parliament about this Vusimuzi ‘Kat’ Matlala. In the statement, I mentioned how much Kat Matlala told me about his financial transactions with Minister Bheki Cele.”

Mogotsi urged the commission to direct its attention to crime intelligence, which he says holds key documentation on the matter.

Known as John Wick

“There is something called Boko Haram, it is a presentation intelligence presentation which was presented to the former minister Bheki Cele. It was six pages: a Boko Haram talks to a man known as John Wick.

“He appears in the presentation that was presented to Minister Bheki Cele. There’s a picture of John Wick, his ID number, pending cases, and everything, and matters that were withdrawn against him. 

It was in 2018. Commissioner John Wick is (in fact) Vusimuzi Matlala, even the picture is showing that.”

Cele admitted to sleeping at the house of the attempted murder accused and controversial tenderpreneur Matlala. He had told MPs about his relationship with Matlala, saying he first met him in December at the Beverly Hills hotel in Durban after the raid at Matlala’s premises to discuss issues.

Mogotsi also challenged Cele’s assertion that he first met Matlala in 2024. According to him, Cele’s version does not align with earlier events he claims took place.

Mogotsi said Cele had publicly stated he did not know Matlala and had visited his house only after being invited. He disputed the statement that Cele only met Kat Matlala last year, emphasising that Cele had said he didn’t know Matlala and was invited to his house as a freebie and had to take it.

Affected by poker act

He also mentioned an incident at Matlala’s house during an ANC lekgotla, involving an attempted intervention by authorities. 

“I should also share those messages between me and Kat Matlala. The story that Minister Bheki Cele was in Kat’s house is true; we actually had to arrest Minister Cele at that time. He was affected by this poker act, the procedure of the crime act.”

Mogotsi said the WhatsApps will clarify what transpired during the encounter in question and provide context regarding Cele’s presence at Matlala’s residence.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh