'I only met Mogotsi once': Nkabinde tells parliamentary inquiry

Cedrick Nkabinde, chief of staff of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, said on Wednesday that he met controversial North West and ANC-aligned businessman Brown Mogotsi once when he facilitated a meeting on behalf of the minister.

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, where there was a crisis of illegal miners.

“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.

He was making his second appearance at the parliament inquiry following the adjournment of the hearing last week, when he gave conflicting statements to the inquiry, and there was a mix-up of dates in his oral evidence and affidavit.

On taking the stand, he told the inquiry that he consulted with Mchunu’s personal assistant and also had access to his calendar to get the precise dates and the sequence of events.

Nkabinde added that he had instructed his lawyers to write to a Brigadier Kunene to ask to be allowed access to his electronic devices seized in a search and seizure operation last month.

“Unfortunately, there was no response to that letter. There was not even an acknowledgement received,” he said.

During his testimony, Nkabinde clarified the date on which he received a call from Mkhwanazi enquiring about Mogotsi.

“After verifying the details, I can confirm that I received a call from Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi on 1 October 2024, not 30 September 2024. This call was received while I was accompanying the minister on his first visit to Lusikisiki in relation to the killing that occurred in the area,” he stated.

Nkabinde said Mkhwanazi had contacted him about Mogotsi, who called him, claiming to know Mchunu, and about a complaint lodged against him at the Independent Police Investigating Unit.

“He wanted to know if I knew this person. I confirmed with General Mkhwanazi that I know him, and the minister knows him. I never said he was a close associate of the minister. I never said it like that,” he said when contradicting Mkhwanazi’s testimony to the inquiry.

Earlier, the inquiry spent about an hour discussing Nkabinde’s supplementary statement amid EFF and MK Party’s concerns.

EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys had wanted to know why the supplementary statement was accepted and whether it was legally sound and procedural.

“When you read the supplementary statement, the witness indicates he produced the statement at the last minute. We need to know whether the witness will be prejudiced during this process,” Mathys said.

She also raised issues that the MPs were not notified in advance about Nkabinde’s second appearance.

“I think that could have been handled in a better way,” she said, before raising concerns about the quality of affidavits and the budget for the inquiry.

MK Party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo said the supplementary statement was meant to acknowledge the original affidavit and not repeat it word for word.

“It should deal with supplementary information,” Nomvalo said.

In response, Chief Evidence Leader Advocate Norman Arendse said Nkabinde had gone back to adjust what he told the inquiry and what was contained in the affidavit.

“He has done so in a form of supplementary affidavit, where he addresses his efforts to confirm the precise dates and information. In our view as evidence leaders, he is entitled to do so in the form that he does,” Arendse said.

Committee Chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, said some of the issues raised by Mathys may be dealt with in the committee meetings.

“The fact that the witness is here and we have not received an application on their part to request extension, I assume there has been an agreement between them (evidence leaders) and with the legal team that they will appear here today,” said Lekganyane.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za