The Madlanga Commission begins its second phase on 18 November 2025, starting with testimony from Brown Mogotsi, alleged middleman between Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. Mogotsi, a North West businessman implicated in facilitating payments, will respond to allegations of criminality and political interference. The phase allows implicated individuals to refute claims from the first phase.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into political killings and related issues in South Africa enters Phase Two on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, providing an opportunity for those implicated in the initial hearings to present their responses. The proceedings will commence at 9:30am, with Brown Mogotsi scheduled to testify on 18 and 19 November.
Mogotsi, a North West businessman and former lobbyist for President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2017 ANC leadership bid, faces allegations of acting as a go-between for sidelined Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and alleged crime boss Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. According to testimony from Witness C on 30 October 2025, Matlala paid R500,000 to support Mchunu's 2027 ANC presidency bid, with funds allegedly routed through Mogotsi. WhatsApp exchanges presented to the commission suggest Mogotsi received monetary benefits from Matlala, placing him at the center of claims involving criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system.
Mchunu, currently on leave, has described Mogotsi as 'just a comrade' and denied any deeper association. Mogotsi has claimed to be an 'undercover operative' who assisted in apprehending the Facebook Rapist, Thabo Bester. Separately, police are probing an apparent assassination attempt on Mogotsi in Vosloorus, where his vehicle was riddled with bullets but he escaped unharmed.
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels stated: 'Phase Two will give Persons of Interest... the opportunity to place before the commission their version of and/or response to the allegations.' This phase aims to rigorously test evidence from Phase One, where concerns were raised about the disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team and the handling of 121 dockets transferred to Pretoria in March 2025, which remained uninvestigated for months due to lack of budget and directives.