KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi questioned Brown Mogotsi’s connection regarding the extradition of Thabo Bester back in South Africa after fleeing to Tanzania following his prison escape. Image credit: SABC
(The Post News) – KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi questioned Brown Mogotsi’s connection regarding the extradition of Thabo Bester back in South Africa after fleeing to Tanzania following his prison escape. Mkhwanazi was speaking on Friday at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, held at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.
During his testimony, Mkhwanazi said Mogotsi implicated himself as part of the contingent that brought Bester back to South Africa. He added that Major General Feroz Khan who was at the time acting head of Counter and Security Crime Intelligence where drug cartel probes in KZN and Gauteng were handled was also part of the operation. “I know General Khan was in that operation too. He will have to explain his involvement since he is not registered as a source in the police, but he has access to everything regarding the police.”
Mkhwanazi accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of questionable ties with Mogotsi, whom he described as an “associate”. “My sense was that Brown Mokgotsi is close to the minister, because he knew his whereabouts.” He has fingered a North West-based businessman, as one of the key figures who interfere in high-profile police investigations. Mkhwanazi revealed that a component within SAPS has been leaking Crime Intelligence information to certain MPs and the media with Mogotsi also implicated.
Mkhwanazi also implicated journalists, accusing them of leaking sensitive Crime Intelligence information related to drugs. He said he will name a journalist who consistently writes negatively about him: “You will see the thread which shows they are part of the group that defeats the ends of justice.” Journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika has also been implicated. It was revealed that cartels were using journalists to tarnish General Mkhwanazi’s name while shielding the real criminals.
According to Mkhwanazi, police officers were allegedly caught offloading drugs from a truck into police vehicles. The truck was moving from KZN to Johannesburg and Mogotsi’s name was also in the mix.
Mkhwanazi presented numerous screenshots of his communications — including with Brown from days before he went public. Screenshots from Cat Matlala’s phone show WhatsApps from Brown Mogotsi. On 1 Jan 2025, Mogotsi told Matlala: “The Task Team that came to your house has been disbanded.”
He said at that stage he himself did not know the team was disbanded. Later messages show Mogotsi claiming that Minister Mchunu planned to “deal with General Khumalo and General Mkhwanazi.”
Mkhwanazi suggested that Mogotsi should be invited to the commission to testify.
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