Mchunu wanted Mogotsi present in meeting on Stilfontein mining tragedy - Chief of Staff

SENZO Mchunu’s chief of staff of Cedrick Nkabinde is still in the dark about why his boss specifically wanted controversial North West and ANC-aligned businessman Brown Mogotsi to brief him on the a crisis of illegal miners at Stilfontein. 

Continuing his testimony at the parliamentary inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Nkabinde said Mchunu had, on August 24, 2024, instructed him to make arrangements for him to go and visit Stilfontein. The South African government, in particular the police, were under scrutiny over the deaths of about 78 illegal trapped in an abandoned mine at Stillfontein last year. 

Nkabinde said he only met Mogotsi once when he facilitated the meeting on behalf of Mchunu, who has since been placed on enforced leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa in light of Mkhwanazi’s allegations.

“It was at this meeting that the minister provided me with contact details of Mr Mogotsi from North West. The minister instructed that I should contact Mr Mogotsi and ask him to come with local leaders to brief him on the situation before his visit,” he said.

A meeting was scheduled for Mogotsi and four of his “comrades” on October 28, 2024, at Mchunu’s official residence.

“I facilitated all logistical arrangements for the meeting, which proceeded as scheduled. I did not attend this meeting and therefore was unable to confirm the discussions that were had in that meeting.” 

Nkabinde said he did not know the rationale for Mchunu to identify Mogotsi to a meeting with local leaders.

He also said it was the first and last time he had met Mogotsi in October 2024.

“It was only for this Stilfontein, this arrangement for this meeting. After all these arrangements for this meeting, I have never seen Mogotsi coming to the minister or even facilitating any meeting for him to come and see the minister.”

Nkabinde told the inquiry that Mogotsi had never visited Mchunu’s office since last year’s meeting.

Mogotsi also faced intense questioning over his claims that KwaZulu-Natal SAPS boss Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Zulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini were agents for the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Testifying at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Mogotsi - a self-described contact agent for a crime intelligence unit - alleged he was investigating Mkhwanazi as a potential CIA agent.

He claimed the CIA recruited Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu to safeguard their interests, particularly regarding the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, adding that he got the information from one of his sources.

However, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC, on Wednesday challenged his evidence, suggesting that it was fabricated and that it could be a “misdirection tactic” to divert from the allegations made by Mkhwanazi during his media briefing on July 6.

Mogotsi denied that his testimony was intended to misdirect, saying the outcome of the investigation "will show whether you are correct or not".

Chaskalson pointed out that the Richards Bay Coal Terminal is owned by over 10 mining companies, each with their own export quota, giving them control over coal exports and the ability to choose their buyers.

He also dismissed Mogotsi's claim that the coal terminal's offtake portion is owned by Israeli interests. “That notion is completely fanciful,” he said.

Contrary to Mogotsi’s claim, Chaskalson said: “There has never been any suggestion from the government that the coal terminal is going to be shut down. On the contrary, in the period you speak, the government has invested millions of rands on the rail link to Richard Bay.”

Chaskalson said if Mogotsi was genuinely investigating a CIA plot with his handler, he would have found the facts about Richards Bay Coal Terminal's ownership structure online in just five minutes.

“You really would not have come with a story, which is self-evidently absurd,” he said.

Cape Times