The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Tuesday morning said efforts to reach controversial businessman and political fixer Brown Mogotsi, who narrowly escaped an apparent hit in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg, on Monday night, have been unsuccessful.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said detectives have so far established that around 11 bullets pierced the small Chevrolet sedan in which Mogotsi was travelling, at around 10 pm.

However, Mogotsi did not open a case on Monday night, promising police officers at the scene that he would visit the Vosloorus police station on Tuesday morning to report the incident.

However, before 11 am on Tuesday, Mathe said police were making relentless efforts to locate Mogotsi, without success. She said Mogotsi’s presence was critical, but the case would not be closed if he did not arrive at the police station.

“We cannot close the case, we are going to solve it. There are resources that have been spent here, and there is personnel that was sent to the particular crime scene. We need to get to the bottom of what happened. Whether Mr Mogotsi presents himself or makes himself available for a statement to be taken, we are continuing with an investigation into the attempted murder,” said Mathe.

“When the case has been finalised, we will make all those details public information to say what we would have uncovered. Mr Mogotsi’s statement is important to assist us in really ascertaining what may have transpired and what really happened last night.”

Journalists asked Mathe to clarify what would happen if police established that the attempted murder incident was staged.

She said Mogotsi would be charged: “Absolutely, that is defeating the ends of justice. If we are pulling out police resources, mobilising police resources, various experts, members of Visible Policing, and detectives to attend to a particular crime scene, that is a diversion of resources.

“If we do find out that this was staged … we are not there yet. We have not made that determination. We are still investigating. We are hoping it was not staged and that this is genuine, that there was an actual attempt on his life. That is why we have registered a case of attempted murder.”

Earlier, IOL reported that Mathe said detectives have so far established that around 11 bullets pierced the small Chevrolet sedan in which Mogotsi was travelling.

“Our investigating team is estimating around 11 rounds fired at the vehicle. Our investigators are still at the scene, combing the scene, just to ensure that we leave nothing to chance, to collect all physical evidence,” Mathe said, speaking to journalists at Vosloorus Police Station in Ekurhuleni.

“Looking at the car, we don’t see any blood, we don’t see anything that suggests that Mr Mogotsi was injured in the process.

“Police officers who attended the crime scene yesterday have also confirmed that he was unscathed. He did not have any bullet wounds.”

Madlanga Commission and witness safety concerns

The alleged attack on Mogotsi occurred just hours after he had engaged with the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he is expected to appear as a key witness. The Commission, which is probing political interference, criminality, and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system, has since expressed concern for his safety.

Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said discussions were underway to ensure his protection.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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