The South African Police Service (SAPS) are urgently seeking to locate controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi after he narrowly escaped what appears to have been a targeted assassination attempt in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg, on Monday night. Despite surviving the incident unscathed, Mogotsi has so far failed to cooperate with authorities, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that detectives have established that approximately 11 bullets struck the small Chevrolet sedan Mogotsi was reportedly travelling in at around 10 pm.
Mogotsi, however, did not open a case on Monday night, promising police officers at the scene that he would visit the Vosloorus police station on Tuesday morning to formally report the incident.
As of late Tuesday morning, Mathe said police were making relentless efforts to locate Mogotsi, without success. She emphasised that his presence was crucial to the investigation, but stressed that the case would not be closed even if he failed to come forward.
"We cannot close the case, we are going to solve it," Mathe stated firmly. "There are resources that have been spent here, and there is personnel that was sent to the particular crime scene. We need to get to the bottom of what happened. Whether Mr Mogotsi presents himself or makes himself available for a statement to be taken, we are continuing with an investigation into the attempted murder."
Mathe added, "When the case has been finalised, we will make all those details public information to say what we would have uncovered. Mr Mogotsi’s statement is important to assist us in really ascertaining what may have transpired and what really happened last night."
Adding to the intrigue, the alleged attack occurred just hours after Mogotsi had been in discussions with the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he is expected to appear as a key witness. The Commission, which is investigating political interference, criminality, and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system, has expressed concern for Mogotsi's safety. Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed that discussions were underway to ensure his protection.
Journalists pressed Mathe for clarification on what action would be taken if police determined that the attempted murder incident was staged. She responded that Mogotsi would face serious charges.
"Absolutely, that is defeating the ends of justice," Mathe asserted. "If we are pulling out police resources, mobilising police resources, various experts, members of Visible Policing, and detectives to attend to a particular crime scene, that is a diversion of resources."
She continued, "If we do find out that this was staged … we are not there yet. We have not made that determination. We are still investigating. We are hoping it was not staged and that this is genuine, that there was an actual attempt on his life. That is why we have registered a case of attempted murder."
Earlier, Mathe told journalists at Vosloorus Police Station in Ekurhuleni that the investigating team estimated around 11 rounds were fired at the vehicle. "Our investigators are still at the scene, combing the scene, just to ensure that we leave nothing to chance, to collect all physical evidence," she said.
Mathe also noted, "Looking at the car, we don’t see any blood, we don’t see anything that suggests that Mr Mogotsi was injured in the process." She added that police officers who attended the crime scene on Monday night confirmed that he was unscathed and did not have any bullet wounds.
The police investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging Brown Mogotsi to come forward and provide his account of the events. The SAPS has vowed to pursue all avenues to uncover the truth behind the alleged assassination attempt and ensure that justice is served.
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