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Brown Mogotsi Fires Back at Mbalula, Denies Corruption Allegations and Claims ANC Membership Remains Intact
Author: NewsInSA
Brown Mogotsi fires back at Fikile Mbalula, denying corruption allegations and accusing the ANC Secretary-General of using his name to target Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Johannesburg, October 6, 2025 – North West businessman Brown “Oupa” Mogotsi has hit back at ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, accusing him of using his name to politically target Police Minister Senzo Mchunu amid the ongoing Madlanga Commission hearings into corruption and criminal infiltration in state structures.
Speaking exclusively to SABC News, Mogotsi dismissed claims that he was expelled or suspended from the ANC, insisting he remains a member in good standing until the end of October 2025. He further expressed his willingness to appear before both the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad-hoc committee probing political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“I’m a member of the ANC in good standing. I’m not running away from anything,” Mogotsi declared, challenging Mbalula to “conduct himself like a proper Secretary-General.”
READ: Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu Breaks Silence Ahead of Madlanga Commission Appearance |
Allegations of Political Interference and Financial Misconduct
The Madlanga Commission has linked Mogotsi to a complex web of tender manipulation, police interference, and financial dealings involving controversial Gauteng businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly attempting to protect a R360 million SAPS contract.
According to testimony by Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, WhatsApp evidence presented before the commission shows Matlala allegedly channeled funds through Mogotsi to access ANC political circles and influence police investigations.
The evidence suggests that Mogotsi acted as an intermediary between Matlala and senior SAPS figures, facilitating introductions and political “cover” for Matlala’s business dealings. Funds were reportedly used to pay for ANC events, gala dinners, and delegate travel packages, raising concerns over the infiltration of criminal proceeds into political party structures.
Denial of Wrongdoing and Claims of Political Retaliation
Mogotsi has vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as part of a broader political smear campaign orchestrated by figures within the ANC seeking to discredit both him and Minister Mchunu.
He insists that he never met or communicated with Matlala in any illicit capacity, calling the WhatsApp evidence “fabricated and manipulated.”
“I have never had any conversation with Cat Matlala. I don’t know where these so-called messages are coming from,” Mogotsi said, adding that Mbalula’s statements were an attempt to “score factional points” and distract from his own controversies.
Mogotsi further accused Mbalula of hypocrisy, citing the ANC Secretary-General’s alleged association with foreign business interests and individuals implicated in corruption cases. Among the allegations, Mbalula is said to have travelled abroad with Vusi Khekhe, a convicted killer of businessman Wandile Bozwana, and used a luxury boat owned by a foreign company during a party event to Robben Island.
READ: ANC Cuts Ties with Oupa Brown Mogotsi Over Crime Links |
The Senzo Mchunu Connection
Central to the controversy is Mogotsi’s relationship with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has himself faced scrutiny amid allegations of interference in police operations and contract cancellations.
Sources close to the commission allege that Mogotsi leveraged his connection to Mchunu to influence SAPS internal processes and protect Matlala’s interests. However, Mogotsi insists that his relationship with the minister was purely political, noting that he worked on Mchunu’s 2017 ANC Secretary-General campaign branding, long before the current controversies emerged.
“Comrade Senzo is a political leader I’ve always respected. I was part of his campaign because I believed in his leadership, not because of any criminal links,” Mogotsi said.
Mchunu, who recently cancelled Matlala’s R360 million contract, has distanced himself from both Mogotsi and Matlala, calling for full transparency and cooperation with investigators.
Mbalula Stands Firm
Meanwhile, Fikile Mbalula has maintained that the ANC has cut ties with individuals implicated in corruption, saying the ruling party “will not defend comrade tsotsis.”
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu-Motsiri confirmed that Mogotsi’s membership had lapsed, contradicting his claims of being in good standing. “The ANC has a clear position — anyone found to have brought the party into disrepute must face the consequences,” she said.
Mbalula, speaking on X (formerly Twitter), reaffirmed the party’s stance:
“We cannot be soft on those who use the ANC’s name to cover corruption. The movement must be cleansed — even if it means losing some comrades.”
Ongoing Commission Hearings
The Madlanga Commission continues to hear explosive testimony about political funding, organized crime infiltration, and police misconduct. Lt Gen. Khumalo’s revelations have painted a disturbing picture of corruption networks operating at the intersection of politics and law enforcement — with senior SAPS officials, business figures, and politicians allegedly colluding for personal gain.
The coming weeks are expected to bring more clarity as both Mogotsi and Mchunu prepare to appear before the commission.
For now, Mogotsi remains defiant, vowing to clear his name and expose what he calls the “weaponization of corruption allegations” within the ANC.
“I’m ready to face the commission. I have nothing to hide,” he concluded.
