The alleged political fixer and controversial businessman, Brown Mogotsi, will have the opportunity to tell his side of the story as the second phase of the Madlanga Commission gets underway on Tuesday.

He is the 28th witness at the Commission and is expected to be questioned on his relationships with Minister Senzo Mchunu and the alleged member of the Big Five crime cartel, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

His testimony forms part of the second phase of the commission of inquiry, in which persons of interest, mentioned during the first phase, can give their version of events.

The first phase dealt with unpacking the allegations of interference and corruption in the criminal justice system.

“Phase One was also about corroborating and substantiating the allegations made by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi, but not testing these allegations… Phase Two will proceed to rigorously test the evidence presented in Phase One,” said Spokesperson of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, Jeremy Michaels.

Mogotsi is scheduled to testify on the 18th and 19th of November.

Next phases of Madlanga Commission

In a statement, the commission’s spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, said Phase Two marks a significant escalation in the inquiry.

This stage comes after 35 days of hearings and testimony from 27 witnesses, starting with Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 17 September.

Michaels reiterated that Phase One was intended “to formally place the ‘untested allegations’ under oath” and to corroborate claims made, but not to interrogate them, which will now take place in the second phase.

He added that those implicated have been either invited or compelled to appear, and all Persons of Interest (or PoIs) who submitted statements “will have the opportunity to take the Commission through their statement without hostile questioning” before evidence leaders cross-examine them.

Phase Two is expected to run into early 2026.

While it proceeds, a few remaining Phase One witnesses will appear in both public and in-camera sessions. Phase Three will see Mkhwanazi and other key witnesses return to respond to counter-allegations and undergo further testing of their evidence.