Mogotsi claims KZN police commissioner and Zulu King ‘recruited’ by CIA

Businessman Brown Mogotsi has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini were allegedly recruited by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

He said that he had obtained information from one of his sources alleging that King Misuzulu and Mkhwanazi “were recruited by and actively worked for and with” the CIA. Mogotsi is accused in previous testimony of being part of alleged collusion between politicians and organised crime.

He said the claim about CIA links arose partly because King Misuzulu had been “staying in the United States”. “You see how General Mkhwanazi always tells you he was trained by the Americans, that's where everything started,” Mogotsi said. 

Mogotsi also alleged that Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu had treated King Misuzulu’s brother, Prince Simakade Zulu, unfairly. He claimed cases relating to alleged intimidation, harassment and attempted murder of members of Prince Simakade’s household were never investigated by SAPS. According to him, this was because Mkhwanazi had intervened “on the instruction of the CIA”, although he again provided no evidence.

Mogotsi further alleged that both Mkhwanazi and King Misuzulu had been “activated” to protect Western interests in South Africa.

Explaining, Mogotsi told the commission the information he received referred to a coal mine and export routes linked to the Richards Bay Port Terminal. He said there had been concern that the South African government might halt coal exports, and that part of the offtake was owned by Israeli interests.

According to him, this fear emerged after South Africa took Israel to the International Criminal Court, leading to apprehension that trade could also be restricted. He said this was why “Western or Israeli interests” had allegedly activated their sources referring to King Misuzulu and Mkhwanazi making Richards Bay a priority area for the police commissioner.

He added that during this period, Prince Simakade was engaged in business discussions with Chinese partners, and he believed an agreement had been planned which never materialised.