ANC North West : ‘Brown Mogotsi was scamming people by selling party’s membership’
African National Congress (ANC) North West provincial secretary Louis Diremelo has slammed controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi’s alleged activities of selling the party’s membership as a “scam”.
Diremelo made the comments during the ANC’s special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, where discussions focused on interventions to accelerate inclusive growth and employment.
This comes after the ANC reiterated its position distancing itself from Mogotsi, a businessman facing allegations of organised criminal activity.
Diremelo said the party said its records confirm that Mogotsi’s membership expired in 2020 and was never renewed.
“We can confirm that Mr Brown was a member of the ANC until 2020. His membership expired, and according to our policies, it must be renewed within one year. If not, you cease to be a member,” said Diremelo.
“So, we can confirm here and now that Mr Brown Mogotsi is not a member of the ANC. His membership expired a long time ago. We have confirmation letters from branches – the basic unit of the organisation – that he is not a member,” he added.
Diremelo further said that Mogotsi has never been engaged in any official ANC events or conferences.
“We have never engaged with Mr Brown in any way in terms of conferences or any formal ANC structures,” he said.
“Many times, he would call us, asking about municipal issues or party affairs, but we never entertained him.”
The allegations surfaced after businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala allegedly paid Mogotsi hundreds of thousands of rand in exchange for political favours, protection, and access to senior ANC events.
Matlala allegedly made payments through Medicare24’s Tshwane District account to Gotlhe Specialists, a company believed to have political connections.
The relationship reportedly began to unravel in January 2025, when Mogotsi urged Matlala to pay R111,000 for a “Silver Package” table at the ANC’s Presidential Business Forum (PBF) event on 8 January.
Matlala eventually paid the amount, though he was not happy about it.
However, Diremelo denied any knowledge of such transactions.
“We can’t say that is true. If that is happening, it’s a scam. He (Mogotsi) has been scamming whoever gave him money,” Diremelo said.
“We don’t know how he did that. We don’t operate like that in the organisation.”
He emphasised that ANC membership is an individual process and cannot be paid for in bulk or through third parties.
”We don’t take R12,000 and pay for multiple memberships. Each member pays their own fee. So even if we go down to the branch level, they’ll tell you they’ve never received that money,” he said. “He has scammed those people. They should go and try to get their money back.”
ANC previously confirmed that Mogotsi’s membership has expired.
“The African National Congress has noted recent allegations that certain individuals, including Mr Oupa Brown Mogotsi, are involved in serious organised criminal activity,” ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu-Motsiri said.
“Our membership records confirm that Mr Mogotsi’s ANC membership has expired. He is not a member.”
The revelations come after SAPS Crime Intelligence boss, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, presenting WhatsApp messages allegedly showing Mogotsi soliciting money by leveraging supposed ties to the ANC
Khumalo also claimed some of the funds were used to finance ANC-linked activities, including event participation.
Speaking to IOL News, political analyst Solly Rashilo said such behaviour fits a common pattern in South African politics.
“Attempts by business figures to buy political influence through financial support, donations, sponsorships, event funding, are common, both globally and locally,” said Rashilo.
“These allegations raise serious questions about the ANC’s donor vetting and ethical safeguards. If someone under criminal investigation can fund party-linked activities, it points to systemic weaknesses in financial scrutiny.”
Independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego also chipped in, saying that the ANC has become synonymous with corruption.
“At the centre of every corruption investigation is an ANC member or cadre. That speaks volumes about the party itself,” he told IOL News.
“Whether it’s the Zondo Commission or the Arms Deal inquiry, every corruption probe ends up pointing back to the ANC. I can comfortably say it has become a vehicle for corruption.”
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL Politics
