North West Politician Brown Mogotsi Arrested for Alleged Fake Assassination Attempt

A North West businessman and political figure was arrested Friday evening on charges of staging his own assassination attempt last year. Brown Mogotsi was taken into custody by a multidisciplinary police team shortly after concluding his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.

Mogotsi is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Monday to face a charge of defeating the ends of justice. The arrest stems from a shooting incident in Vosloorus, Gauteng, in November 2025. At the time, Mogotsi reported that unknown assailants in a white vehicle had opened fire on his red Chevrolet, with police recovering approximately 11 bullet casings at the scene. Authorities now allege the attack was staged.

A police spokesperson stated the arrest followed an investigation into the alleged fake assassination attempt. Preliminary findings indicate the 9mm firearm used in the shooting has also been linked to other serious violent crimes, including murder and attempted murder cases.

Mogotsi’s lawyer, Radasi Sekgatja, said the legal team was not informed of the impending arrest and only learned of it after seeing reports on social media. He characterized the...