Nkabinde says Brown Mogotsi sends stupid messages

Chief of Staff Cedric Nkabinde told Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Thursday that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu instructed him to organise meetings with North West businessman Brown Mogotsi and other mining community leaders at the Minister’s official residence.

Nkabinde said he was not present in the meeting with Mchunu, Mogotsi, and other individuals he did not know. He explained that Minister Mchunu gave him phone numbers for Brown Mogotsi. He said that according to his knowledge, one meeting materialised while another did not.

Evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse SC asked at whose request the meetings were arranged. Nkabinde responded, “It was the Minister through me who was facilitating the meetings. The Minister gave me the number of Brown Mogotsi to facilitate.”

Arendse asked if it was the only time Nkabinde contacted Mogotsi after Mchunu gave him the number. Nkabinde said he recalled other messages from Brown Mogotsi. He added that Mogotsi had sent messages regarding Khan, a businessman.

Nkabinde described Mogotsi as a person who likes to break news. “He is a person who will tell a story before it is known. He forwards what is on the news. I cannot deny that there are some messages he would send that are not useful and I would not respond to them. Besides that, I cannot recall him talking to me,” Nkabinde said.

Arendse asked why Nkabinde did not tell Mogotsi to stop sending messages, given his position as Chief of Staff for the Police Minister. Nkabinde said he chose to ignore the messages because they were not causing any harm. He added that the messages came after he arranged the meeting between Mogotsi and Minister Mchunu at the Minister’s private residence.

The committee also questioned Nkabinde about his own appointment as Chief of Staff. Nkabinde told the committee that he did not attend an interview for the position. He said Minister Mchunu recommended him for the post. Following the recommendation, Nkabinde said he went to Human Resources and was subsequently appointed Chief of Staff.

Nkabinde noted that last month, when former Chief of Staff Mchubu appeared before the Ad Hoc Committee, Mchubu said there were interviews and a panel for the position. Nkabinde clarified on Thursday that he personally did not go through any interview process.

The committee continued to question Nkabinde about his interactions with Mogotsi and other members of the mining community. He maintained that his role was limited to facilitating meetings at the request of Minister Mchunu. Nkabinde also said he was not involved in the discussions that took place during the meetings.

Nkabinde described his work as following the instructions of Minister Mchunu and acting as a link between the Minister and other individuals or organisations. He emphasised that he was not responsible for any decisions taken during the meetings or the content of communications with Mogotsi.

The questioning also focused on the content of messages sent by Mogotsi. Nkabinde said he did not respond to certain messages because he considered them unimportant and not harmful. He told the committee that he kept records of the messages he received but did not take any further action.

The Ad Hoc Committee is continuing its investigations into the conduct of senior officials in the Police Ministry, including the role of Chief of Staff Cedric Nkabinde. The committee is examining the nature of meetings facilitated by Nkabinde and the communications with business people in relation to Minister Mchunu.

EFF leader Julius Malema questioned Nkabinde if he is friends with Brown Mogotsi, in his response he said no.

“Then why would someone who is not your friend send you stupid messages? The gadgets were confiscated, the truth shall come out,” said Malema.