Alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi remains behind bars after prosecutors told the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court that eyewitnesses allegedly saw him shoot at his own vehicle before claiming there had been an assassination attempt on his life.
The dramatic claims surfaced during Mogotsi’s ongoing bail application, where the State argued he should not be released because he allegedly misled investigators, failed to cooperate fully with police and attempted to obstruct the investigation.
Mogotsi faces multiple charges, including perjury, defeating the ends of justice, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as discharging a firearm in a public place.
The charges relate to an incident in Vosloorus in November 2025, where authorities now allege the supposed attack may have been staged.
Prosecutors allege Mogotsi shot at his own vehicle
State prosecutor Thami Mpekana told the court that eyewitness accounts directly contradicted Mogotsi’s version of events.
“The submission of the state is that there are eyewitnesses who saw the car stop and (Mogotsi) fired a few shots towards the car,” Mpekana said in court.
According to the State, CCTV footage allegedly showed no other vehicle following Mogotsi at the time of the incident.
“At the time, the person was lying on the ground. He was alone in the car, there were no passengers. CCTV also indicated that there wasn’t any other car that had tailed the applicant,” the prosecutor argued.
Authorities further claimed that Mogotsi’s vehicle was the only car seen in the vicinity during the alleged shooting.
Despite the allegations, police have not yet recovered the firearm allegedly used in the incident.
State says Mogotsi frustrated investigation
The prosecution also accused Mogotsi of hampering police investigations by providing incorrect residential details and delaying cooperation with authorities.
Mpekana told the court investigators struggled to locate Mogotsi after the incident, claiming officers were at one stage informed that he had died.
“The investigating officer had gone to Mmabatho and also to his place of business (and) was told that he is dead,” he said.
According to prosecutors, officers later visited an address in Mmabatho supplied through Mogotsi’s legal representatives but allegedly discovered he did not reside there.
The State additionally argued that Mogotsi previously provided false address information during a separate investigation dating back to 2007.
Prosecutors also alleged that Mogotsi attempted to bribe a police officer in relation to his bail application, further strengthening the State’s opposition to his release.
Defence disputes address allegations
Mogotsi’s lawyer, Nthabiseng Mohamane, strongly rejected the State’s claims and argued that her client had submitted sufficient proof of residence.
She told the court that Mogotsi had provided:
- An affidavit from his customary wife
- Contact details
- WhatsApp communication records
- GPS pin locations
- Telephone information
Mohamane argued investigators were unfairly dismissing evidence confirming Mogotsi’s residence.
“The fact of the matter is they are there,” she said, referring to belongings allegedly found at the property by investigators.
She also challenged alleged inconsistencies in a lease agreement submitted to court.
According to the defence, investigators incorrectly interpreted a typographical error relating to the lease signing date.
“If the court goes to the first page of that document, the lease was signed on July 1, 2024,” Mohamane argued.
Defence says Mogotsi is not a flight risk
Mohamane further argued that Mogotsi had consistently cooperated with official proceedings and should not be viewed as a flight risk.
She pointed out that he had previously complied with requests to appear before both the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad hoc committee.
“When he was called to the Madlanga Commission, he appeared as he was requested on all occasions,” she said.
The defence also maintained that the charges faced by Mogotsi were not severe enough to justify continued detention before trial.
“My submission is that on defeating the ends of justice, nobody has ever gotten a lengthy term of imprisonment,” Mohamane argued.
She additionally noted that the State had not classified the firearm involved as semi-automatic, meaning stricter minimum sentencing provisions would likely not apply.
Political and public attention growing around case
The case has attracted significant public interest due to Mogotsi’s alleged political connections and the broader atmosphere of heightened scrutiny surrounding corruption, political violence and law enforcement investigations in South Africa.
Observers say the matter intersects with growing national concern over allegations of political interference and staged criminal incidents linked to factional battles within political structures.
The court proceedings also come amid ongoing public focus on the Madlanga Commission and wider debates about accountability within state institutions.
Bail judgment expected next week
Mogotsi told the court he could afford bail of R10,000 if released.
The magistrate reserved judgment in the bail application, with the matter postponed until Thursday, 4 June.
Until then, Mogotsi will remain in custody.
