Johannesburg Court Delays Brown Mogotsi Trial to Aug 20

A Johannesburg court has postponed the case against alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi to August 20, 2026, following a dispute over the disclosure of witness identities and statements. The decision came during a pretrial hearing on Monday, August 3, where the state and defence clashed over whether prosecutors could withhold the names and personal details of witnesses for security reasons.

Mogotsi faces five charges, including perjury, defeating the ends of justice, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and discharging a firearm in a public area. The charges stem from an incident in Vosloorus in November 2025, which prosecutors allege was a staged assassination attempt on Mogotsi's own life. He has been in custody since his arrest on May 15, 2026, after multiple unsuccessful bail applications.

During Monday's hearing, Mogotsi's lawyer, Makau Sekgatja, argued the state was not ready for trial, having only provided some of ten requested witness statements that morning, despite an initial request made on July 10. He further contested the prosecution's decision to redact the names and addresses from the statements, calling it procedurally unfair and legally unsound...