Fikile Mbalula Launches Defamation Lawsuit Against Brown Mogotsi Over Explosive Allegations
Johannesburg – ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has announced that he is taking legal action against North West businessman Brown Mogotsi for making what he calls false and damaging statements about him.
This move comes after Mogotsi made serious claims during a recent television interview, linking Mbalula to criminal figures and questionable dealings. The dispute has highlighted deep tensions within the ANC, with questions about party membership, corruption, and integrity at the forefront.
Mbalula spoke out strongly, saying his lawyers are already handling the case. He described Mogotsi’s words as baseless attacks meant to harm his reputation and the ANC’s image. This legal battle is set to play out in court, where both sides will have to present their evidence. As the ANC deals with internal challenges, this case could affect how the party handles accusations against its leaders.
Background to the Dispute
The conflict started when Mogotsi appeared in an interview and made bold claims about Mbalula’s past actions. He suggested that Mbalula had close ties to Vusi “Khekhe” Mathibela, a convicted taxi boss. Mogotsi said the two travelled abroad together just before the 2015 murder of businessman Wandile Bozwana. He went further, claiming that Bozwana had given Mbalula one million rand, which was never repaid.
Mogotsi also brought up a housing scandal in the Free State, alleging that Mbalula benefited through his wife. He questioned Mbalula’s behaviour during the ANC’s 113th anniversary celebrations, pointing to a luxury boat trip to Robben Island. Mogotsi said that while other ANC officials used a simple boat, Mbalula arrived on a lavish yacht owned by a foreign company. He called for Mbalula to step aside because of these alleged links to people facing criminal charges.
These claims did not come out of nowhere. Mogotsi has been in the spotlight himself due to his involvement in other investigations. He has been named in probes into hospital tenders, where billions of rand were allegedly looted. For example, he is linked to deals at Tembisa Hospital alongside another businessman, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Evidence from inquiries shows messages and payments where Mogotsi collected money, supposedly for ANC events like the January 8 celebrations, including accommodations for high-ranking officials.
Mogotsi has also been accused of acting as a middleman between criminal networks and political leaders. In one commission of inquiry, witnesses described him as someone who used his claimed ANC connections to influence decisions and extract money from people in trouble. This includes promises to help with contracts or legal issues in exchange for payments. Such actions have painted him as an influence peddler who exploits party ties for personal gain.
Mbalula’s Strong Response
Mbalula did not hold back in his reply. He called Mogotsi’s statements “fabrications” that would be proven false in court. “My lawyers are busy with the matter of all the false defamatory statements he made about me,” Mbalula said. He added, “This is obvious. There’s nothing I can say about the things he said, which are false. So my lawyers are busy with him in terms of defamation action. He will have to prove in court. I don’t have any other recourse.”
He accused Mogotsi of trying to shift attention from his own problems, like his expired ANC membership. “How do you deal with a thug who deviates from the real issue? The real issue is about his membership, which has expired,” Mbalula stated. “He decided to draw me into thuggery. I’m not going to do that. I will deal with him through the courts, which is permissible in our country.”
Mbalula stressed that Mogotsi presented his claims as facts, not allegations, without any proof. “He must come to court and prove all those things he has talked about before a competent court of law where both sides will be heard,” he said. “He did not even say ‘allegations’ — he stated them as fact. You can’t take what is written about somebody in the newspaper as fact, including about my family.”
This is not Mbalula’s first brush with defamation cases. In the past, he has faced lawsuits himself, such as one for ten million rand from a former colleague who accused him of making harmful public statements. His wife has also won a one million rand settlement in a separate defamation matter against a social media figure. These experiences show Mbalula’s readiness to use the courts to protect his name.
ANC’s Stance and Membership Row
The ANC has made it clear that it wants no part in Mogotsi’s troubles. Party leaders have said his membership lapsed back in 2020 and was never renewed. They have distanced the organisation from him, calling him a disgrace if he were still a member. Mbalula has warned ANC members to stay away from “comrade tsotsis” – people who use party connections for corrupt purposes.
However, Mogotsi insists he is still a member in good standing, with his membership only expiring at the end of October 2025. He has contacted his local branch to confirm this and rejects the idea that Mbalula can decide his status alone. “This isn’t the Mbalula National Congress,” Mogotsi said, emphasising that the ANC is bigger than any one leader.
The party has launched its own checks into Mogotsi’s status amid these claims. Leaders have pointed out how figures like him infiltrate the ANC, claiming closeness to top officials to tarnish the party’s name. This row exposes cracks within the ANC, especially around discipline and who gets to use the party’s influence.
One ANC executive member defended Mbalula over the boat incident, saying the transport was arranged by the party, not Mbalula personally. “The secretary-general does not arrange his own movements. Whatever he goes with is determined by the ANC,” the member explained. “It would have been the ANC that arranged whatever means of transport Mbalula used. Don’t put it on Mbalula.”
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