Brown Mogotsi

Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi (47), a North-West businessman and self-declared crime intelligence informant, remains in custody after his formal bail application was postponed in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday 25 May.

Mogotsi made headlines at the Madlanga Commission, where he alleged his ties to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was part of covert work on behalf of the State. Senior police officials deny these allegations.

Mogotsi was arrested on 15 May, shortly after the conclusion of his testimony. He faces charges of perjury, defeating the ends of justice and offences related to firearms.

The charges are related to an alleged attempted hit in Vosloorus last November.

Mogotsi claimed that attackers opened fire on his Chevrolet bakkie. But the State says ballistic and video evidence shows the vehicle was stationary when 11 gunshots were fired at it.

The State also alleges Mogotsi tried to bribe investigators and provided a fake address.

ALSO READ: Police investigate alleged hit on controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi 

Sergeant Fanie Nkosi

Judge Mokhine Mosopa reserved judgment in the bail appeal of the suspended police sergeant Fanie Nkosi on Tuesday 26 May. The State is opposing his release, arguing that he could interfere with witnesses and investigations.

Nkosi was arrested by the Madlanga Task Team during an operation at his Pretoria home. The search uncovered six original case dockets, seven unlicensed firearms, ammunition and a stunt grenade.

He is also accused of impersonating a “colonel from head office” to remove confiscated cocaine from police custody in Limpopo in 2022. During the court proceedings, Mosopa asked questions about Nkosi’s luxury lifestyle and large amounts of cash.

ALSO READ: Suspended police sergeant Fannie Nkosi denied bail, remains in custody

Matipandile Sotheni

Matipandile “Andy” Sotheni, a former police task team member, remains in custody until the Brakpan Regional Court rules on his formal bail application on Monday 1 June.

Sotheni faces 16 charges, including premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The charges are related to the killing of Madlanga Commission whistleblower Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe last December.

Van der Merwe, a former officer of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, was fatally gunned down shortly after he exposed corruption at the commission.

The State alleges former police reservist Wiandre Pretorius hired Sotheni to commit the murder.
It is believed Pretorius committed suicide on 7 February this year.

Sotheni admits he was in the area on the day of the shooting. According to him, he w0.as “two streets away,” but he denies pulling the trigger or having an AK-47.

His legal team argues that the state’s ballistics evidence could have been manipulated.

ALSO READ: ‘Hitman’ in the assassination of Witness-D in the Madlanga Commission remanded

Sources: Official website of the Madlanga Commission; Eye Witness News; Independent Online (IOL).

• This article was originally published by the Afrikaans weekly newspaper, Die Papier.