Mogotsi doesn’t believe Matlala is part of ‘Big Five’ crime syndicate

North West businessman Brown Mogotsi said he doesn’t believe alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is part of the “Big Five" crime syndicate.

Mogotsi also said he doesn’t think Matlala, who is currently behind bars, is a criminal.

He was responding to questions on Tuesday about his relationship with Matlala during his testimony before the Parliament ad hoc committee investigating police corruption.

Mogotsi was questioned about his links to Matlala after telling members of Parliament (MPs) that he was also investigating him.

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He was also asked by African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli why he would cozy up to someone he was investigating.

“Why are you so cozy, very close, [to] the extent that you acquire favours from the person you are actually and effectively investigating because he is part of a particular criminal network in our country?”

But Mogotsi said he didn’t see anything ethically wrong with taking money from Matlala despite investigating him.

He also dismissed claims that Matlala is linked to the criminal underworld.

“First, I must emphasise I do not believe Cat Matlala is member of the Big Five. And the part where I assisted him has nothing to with his criminality.”

Mogotsi said Matlala told him he was being harassed by members of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), and he was merely helping him register his case with the police.