Brown Mogotsi claims active role in crime intelligence

North West businessmanBrown Mogotsihas clarified his “triple identity” as an entrepreneur, former police informant, and active crime intelligence agent. Mogotsi appeared beforeparliament’s ad hoc committeeon Tuesday following a security standoff. He had initially refused to testify physically unless parliament provided funding for his private security.

The committee is investigating allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system.Mogotsiis accused of interfering in police investigations and being a “go-between” for high-ranking politicians and alleged criminal syndicates. Once the proceedings commenced, Mogotsi provided a background of his professional history, stating he has been involved in crime intelligence since 2009. Mogotsi explained the timeline of his career, noting that he first served as an informant in 2001.

He was deregistered in 2003 due to inactivity but claims he was later recruited back into the field as a formal agent. When EFF leader Julius Malema questioned the compatibility of his titles, Mogotsi defended his status as a businessman. “I call myself an entrepreneur because I am selling.

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I run a small business and occasionally apply for entrepreneur development programmes,” he said. He detailed his business ventures, which include operating liquor outlets and a meat distribution and manufacturing business that supplies weddings and funerals. “I do a lot of catering at events, and none of them come from government.

I deal strictly with private clients,” Mogotsi said. To clarify his past role as an informant, Mogotsi used a practical example: “If three people are involved in a theft and one is arrested, that individual might provide the police with details on the group’s future plans, effectively becoming an informant”. He also said that police might recruit informants by identifying civilians who have “street-level” information about local drug dealers. However, he distinguished this from being a crime intelligence contact agent, which involves a structured relationship with a professional handler.

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