Businessman Brown Mogotsi has delivered crucial new testimony to the Madlanga Commission, shedding light on his attempts to understand the sudden and controversial removal of Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as Acting National Police Commissioner in 2012. His evidence — presented in calm, methodical detail — has opened a revealing window into a pivotal moment in South Africa’s policing history.
A Leadership Shake-Up That Sparked Questions
Speaking before the commission, Mogotsi recounted how, in late August 2012, he reached out to the late former Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa seeking clarity on the abrupt decision to dismiss Mkhwanazi from his acting role. At the time, the move shocked many within SAPS and the broader intelligence environment, raising suspicions about internal political interference and factional battles that may have influenced the leadership reshuffle.
Mogotsi told the commission that his decision to contact Mthethwa was not based on personal interest but on professional necessity. As someone working closely with intelligence-linked operations, he felt compelled to understand the rationale behind a decision that had far-reaching consequences for SAPS’ stability.
According to him, unexplained leadership changes at the highest level of policing create ripples that affect every layer of the organisation — sowing uncertainty, breeding mistrust, and disrupting operational coherence.
A Call for Transparency in High-Stakes Decisions
Detailing his interaction with Mthethwa, Mogotsi described the communication as “formal, respectful, and aimed purely at obtaining clarity.” He emphasised that he did not question the minister’s authority but sought credible explanations to help make sense of decisions that had left senior officers, intelligence networks, and operational structures unsettled.
He further argued that transparency in such high-level appointments and dismissals is essential for accountability within SAPS. When senior officials are abruptly shifted without explanation, he said, the impact is felt not only at the top but across the organisation’s morale and operational direction.
Insight Into a Complex Period in SAPS History
Analysts following the commission’s proceedings say Mogotsi’s testimony provides rare insight into the internal turmoil that characterised SAPS leadership transitions during that period. His evidence highlights the often underappreciated role of intermediaries, intelligence operatives, and private actors who attempt to make sense of — and sometimes influence — decisions within the security environment.
These actors, Mogotsi included, often operate in the shadows of formal policing structures, gathering information, assessing risks, and trying to ensure that sudden shifts in leadership are understood by those whose work depends on stability and clear lines of authority.
Commission to Probe Mthethwa-Mogotsi Exchange Further
The Madlanga Commission, mandated to uncover the context and political undercurrents behind key decisions shaping South Africa’s policing landscape, is expected to dig deeper into Mogotsi’s interactions with Mthethwa. Investigators are particularly interested in what prompted the inquiry, the response Mogotsi received, and how the incident fits into broader allegations of political interference in SAPS leadership during the early 2010s.
As the hearings continue, Mogotsi’s testimony may prove to be a significant piece in understanding the forces that shaped — and in some cases destabilised — South Africa’s policing structures over the past decade.
