North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has withdrawn explosive claims that Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini were CIA agents, admitting before Parliament’s ad hoc committee that he has no evidence and formally apologising for the allegations.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has withdrawn allegations he made against Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini, in which he claimed they were acting as CIA agents, and has formally apologised for the statements.
Mogotsi backtracked on Tuesday while appearing before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating claims of corruption, state capture and political interference in the criminal justice system.
Pressed for details, he conceded that he had no evidence to support his claims.
ANC MP Khusela Sangoni urged him to apologise and only to raise such allegations once he had proof.
“Because there’s no statement, I hereby withdraw,” Mogotsi said.
He was asked to apologise directly to both men for his unfounded claims.
“I do so, I retract the statement of both General Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu,” he said.
“I hereby apologise for casting aspersions on Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu the Majesty.”
Mogotsi had alleged that Mkhwanazi and the Zulu king had been recruited by the CIA, the United States’ intelligence agency.
He initially distanced himself from being the originator of the claim, saying he had received the information from a source.
He pointed to Misuzulu’s time living in the United States and Mkhwanazi’s previous remarks that he was “trained by the Americans” as reasons for his suspicions.
However, he acknowledged that his source had provided no evidence.
Mogotsi also accused Mkhwanazi of sending members of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) to intimidate, harass and attempt to kill members of the royal house associated with AmaZulu Prince Simakade.
He told the committee that the information had come to him as part of a task from his handler concerning Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu.
“But he will not come and say, hey, they are recruited and you keep quiet,” Mogotsi said.
He linked the allegations to international issues, including South Africa’s engagement with Israel at the International Criminal Court.
“If we continue to read on the part of the International Criminal Court … because of the coal terminal in Richards Bay, the contract and the arrangement, the majority of that coal goes to Israel,” he said.
Mogotsi claimed members of the task team had visited the royal house in relation to these matters and that a case had been opened against Mkhwanazi.
“In the docket of the case … the A1 statement from the aide and the brother to the prince … he did mention all,” Mogotsi said, referring to alleged harassment and disputes over coal contracts and what he described as efforts to extend contracts involving Israeli interests.
He said he had contacted the late former police minister Nathi Mthethwa to discuss why Mkhwanazi had previously been removed from his position.
“In my personal life, when I act, it is based on wanting to achieve, trying to complete or continue with my investigation,” Mogotsi said.
He confirmed travelling to Kenya to meet a source who shared similar suspicions.
“Indeed, I went to Kenya, I met this particular guy … he said he knew those suspicions, he was aware of that,” Mogotsi told the committee.
Asked whether there was an official investigation into Mkhwanazi for allegedly protecting Western interests, Mogotsi declined to comment.
“I cannot confirm, as officially I’m not in a position to say yes, there is an investigation against General Mkhwanazi,” he said.
He added that a case opened in the Midlands by the royal house involved coal contracts and alleged interference by the Political Killings Task Team.
Pressed about his Kenya trip - including who travelled with him and who paid - Mogotsi’s account changed repeatedly.
He first said he had funded the trip himself.
Under questioning from EFF leader Julius Malema, he said colleagues in crime intelligence had contributed to the airfare.
He later said “a person” had paid but refused to name them, claiming their life would be in danger.
He eventually said that the flight ticket cost R5,000 and that he had travelled with another person whose identity he also declined to disclose.
The committee has since instructed Mogotsi to provide proof of payment for the Kenya trip, as well as the names of those who funded it and the person who accompanied him.
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