Political fixer Brown Mogotsi, accused of faking his own assassination has been denied bail.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
The Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court has denied bail to alleged political fixer and North West businessman Brown Mogotsi, finding that he failed to provide accurate residential addresses, and that he could evade trial.
Mogotsi appeared in court on Thursday for the ruling on his bail application, which had been reserved last week.
State prosecutor Advocate Thami Mpekana alleged that witnesses saw Mogotsi exit his vehicle, fire shots at it, and later claim there had been an attempt on his life.
They further alleged that he attempted to bribe a police officer in connection with his bail application and provided investigators with an incorrect residential address.
He faces charges of perjury, defeating the ends of justice, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and discharging a firearm in a public place.
The charges stem from allegations that he staged his own assassination attempt in Vosloorus in November 2025.
The State argued that Mogotsi should be denied bail because he failed to fully cooperate with investigators, delayed providing his statement and omitted key personal details that made it difficult for police to trace him.
Prosecutors also said there were eyewitnesses who saw the vehicle stop and Mogotsi allegedly fired shots towards it. They added that CCTV footage indicated there were no other vehicles in the area at the time, and that Mogotsi was alone in the vehicle.
The State further told the court that police initially struggled to trace Mogotsi after being informed that he was dead, and that investigators visited multiple addresses in the North West provided by his legal team but were told he did not live there.
He also alleged that he misled investigators about his whereabouts and that there were earlier instances in which he had provided incorrect address details during a 2007 investigation.
Mogotsi’s lawyer Nthabiseng Mohamane previously rejected the State’s claims, arguing that he had provided sufficient documentation to verify his residence, including an affidavit from his customary wife, contact details, WhatsApp communications, GPS location data and telephone records.
She also disputed the State’s claims regarding discrepancies in a lease agreement submitted as proof of residence, saying the document showed the lease commenced on July 1, 2024, and expires on July 1, 2027, and that any differing date was a typographical error.
The defence further said municipal and traditional council records supported Mogotsi’s residence in the area and that his belongings at the property confirmed he lived there.
The defence also argued that the charges were not sufficiently serious to justify denying bail and said Mogotsi was not a flight risk, saying that he had previously complied with appearances before the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad hoc committee.
However, in delivering judgment, the presiding officer said: “There are three different addresses provided by the applicant.”
The magistrate added: “The applicant failed to prove before this court that he has a proper address.”
The court further ruled: “Therefore the court found out that there is no proper address for the applicant and it will be difficult for the State to trace him and there may be a likelihood that he will evade his trial.”“Therefore, the interest of justice does not permit his release. As there is no proper address, the bail denied,”
The matter has been postponed to Friday, June 12, for Mogotsi’s legal team to obtain a copy of the docket. He remains in custody.
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