Alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi will remain behind bars after the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court postponed his case to allow his legal team to study video footage that prosecutors say shows him staging his own shooting.
Mogotsi briefly appeared in court on Wednesday, where the State handed over a digital copy of footage it alleges captures him firing shots at his own vehicle before falsely reporting that he had survived an assassination attempt. The matter was postponed to 3 August for further consultation between Mogotsi and his legal team. According to State prosecutor Advocate Thami Mpekana, the footage has now been disclosed to the defence.
“The copies of the footage have now been given to the defence and the defence have indicated that they would want to consult further. I would therefore request that the matter be remanded for that purpose,” Mpekana told the court.
The magistrate granted the postponement and ruled that Mogotsi would remain in custody until his next appearance.
The charges stem from an incident in Vosloorus in November 2025, when Mogotsi reported to police that unknown gunmen travelling in a bakkie had opened fire on his vehicle in an apparent assassination attempt. However, following an extensive investigation, authorities allege the incident was staged. Prosecutors say eyewitnesses saw Mogotsi stop his vehicle, get out and fire several shots at it before later claiming he had been attacked. The State has further argued that CCTV footage shows there were no other vehicles in the area at the time and that Mogotsi was alone when the shooting occurred.
Mogotsi is facing multiple charges, including perjury, defeating the ends of justice, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and discharging a firearm in a public place. During previous bail proceedings, the National Prosecuting Authority opposed his release, arguing that he had failed to cooperate fully with investigators, provided contradictory residential addresses and allegedly attempted to improperly influence the investigating officer. The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court has since denied him bail, finding that the interests of justice did not favour his release.
The defence confirmed it had received the video evidence and requested additional time to analyse it before the matter proceeds. Mogotsi’s legal team has also indicated it intends appealing the earlier bail ruling in the High Court.
The case has attracted significant public attention due to Mogotsi’s role as a self-proclaimed undercover police agent and his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry shortly before his arrest. Authorities maintain that the criminal case is based on evidence gathered during the police investigation into the alleged staged shooting, while the matter will ultimately be determined by the courts. Mogotsi remains in custody pending his next appearance on 3 August.
