North West businessman Brown Mogotsi faced intense questioning over his claims that KwaZulu-Natal SAPS boss Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Zulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini were agents for the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Testifying at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, Mogotsi – a self-described contact agent for a crime intelligence unit – alleged he was investigating Mkhwanazi as a potential CIA agent.
He claimed the CIA recruited Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu to safeguard their interests, particularly regarding the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, adding that he got the information from one of his sources.
He alleged Mkhwanazi sent the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) to target AmaZulu Prince Simakade Zulu’s associates, who allegedly had an interest in the coal terminal. Simakade is the half-brother of Misuzulu.
Mogotsi claimed that after South Africa filed the International Court of Justice case against Israel in 2023, the Israelis were concerned about the coal trade route via the coal terminal, which exports coal to Israel and the US.
However, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC, on Wednesday challenged his evidence, suggesting that it was fabricated and that it could be a “misdirection tactic” to divert from the allegations made by Mkhwanazi during his media briefing on July 6.
Mogotsi denied that his testimony was intended to misdirect, saying the outcome of the investigation “will show whether you are correct or not”.
Chaskalson pointed out that the Richards Bay Coal Terminal is owned by over 10 mining companies, each with their own export quota, giving them control over coal exports and the ability to choose their buyers.
He also dismissed Mogotsi’s claim that the coal terminal’s offtake portion is owned by Israeli interests. “That notion is completely fanciful,” he said.
Mogotsi said he could not give a specific answer to Chaskalson’s assertion, but stated that he believed what he was told by his sources who also allegedly told him about the Chinese interest in Richards Bay and Prince Simakade’s claims of harassment.
Contrary to Mogotsi’s claim, Chaskalson said: “There has never been any suggestion from the government that the coal terminal is going to be shut down. On the contrary, in the period you speak, the government has invested millions of rands on the rail link to Richard Bay.”
Mogotsi said: “There was a feeling from the West that since South Africa took Israel to the ICJ that it may be halted.”
Chaskalson said if Mogotsi was genuinely investigating a CIA plot with his handler, he would have found the facts about Richards Bay Coal Terminal’s ownership structure online in just five minutes.
“You really would not have come with a story, which is self-evidently absurd,” he said.
Mogotsi shot back, saying investigations do not work like that, and he was disappointed that senior counsel relied on internet information, which could be biased or written by parties with interests.
“I am disappointed with senior counsel that with those powerful facts that may have been written by someone who has interests, they are presented before the commission,” he said.
But, Chaskalson insisted: “The allegations that King Misuzulu and Mkwanazi were CIA agents are false and it is one misdirection tactic and trying to take away attention from the allegation that Mkhwanazi is making.”
Mogotsi claimed that the July 6 media briefing by Mkhwanazi was used to divert attention from the alleged abuse of the PKTT.
He expressed surprise that National SAPS Commissioner Fani Masemola has not, to date, condemned Mkhwanazi’s actions for hosting the media briefing.
Mogotsi described the media briefing as a ‘coup’, implying Masemola and Mkhwanazi were working together.
He added that Mkhwanazi was angry about PKTT head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo’s arrest in June at OR Tambo International Airport, along with six co-accused, as part of a corruption probe.
The allegations against Khumalo, also the head of SAPS’ crime intelligence division, include financial mismanagement and irregular appointment of a civilian to a senior post at the rank of brigadier.
The matter is still before court, but Mkhwanazi believes the arrest was meant to divert attention from a probe into drug cartels in Gauteng.
One of the three commissioners, Advocate Sesi Baloyi, SC, cautioned Mogotsi against making unsubstantiated allegations, emphasising that the commission relies on facts and evidence.
“You said yesterday that Matlala told you that he went to Umhlanga Ridge and that was General Mkhwanazi’s home. If you have been following the commission you would know that General Mkhwanazi testified that his home is in Hillcrest. So, you would have done a basic inquiry with Matlala,” she said.
Mogotsi is expected to continue with his testimony on Thursday.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za
