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A case of attempted murder is under investigation after a car carrying businessman Brown Mogotsi was riddled with bullets on Monday night in Ekurhuleni — but not everyone is convinced it was a real attack.
Police confirmed that about 11 rounds were fired at the vehicle while Mogotsi was driving towards Vosloorus at around 10pm. He escaped unharmed. However, by Tuesday morning, he had not yet opened a formal case or given a statement to investigators.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said officers were still waiting for Mogotsi to come forward.
“Mr Mogotsi was expected to report to the Vosloorus Police Station to give his statement. He has not honoured any appointment since October 16,” she said.
Mathe confirmed that investigators have opened a case of attempted murder, collected evidence from the scene, and are analysing shell casings and bullet marks on the car.
“There was no blood in the vehicle,” she noted, adding that the late-night timing made evidence-gathering more difficult.
Mogotsi, a businessman and alleged “fixer,” told ENCA he feared for his life after police raided his business premises in Mahikeng two weeks ago. He is listed as one of the witnesses expected to testify before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry — which is probing alleged links between politicians, police officers, and organised crime figures.
The shooting has now raised questions about whether the attack was an actual assassination attempt — or a staged event.
Brig. Mathe addressed the speculation directly:
“If we find that this was staged, police will open a charge of defeating the ends of justice. But we are not there yet. For now, it’s registered as an attempted murder.”
According to Mogotsi’s version, he was driving alone when a white bakkie began following him before the occupants opened fire. Police are verifying his claims through surveillance footage and vehicle-tracking data.
But public reaction to the story has been overwhelmingly sceptical — with many South Africans suggesting the shooting may have been faked.
“The shooter is a good one — they know how to miss,” one user commented. “This was carefully orchestrated.”
“He probably parked the car, took out his unlicensed gun, and shot it himself,” another wrote. “We’ve seen worse from attention-seekers.”
Others questioned his motives and timing.
“By the look of those bullet holes, that guy would’ve been in the mortuary if it was real,” said another. “What kind of game is Mr Brown Envelope playing?”
A popular Facebook comment read:
“That car doesn’t even look like a daily runner — why not use one of his luxury cars? Clearly this was just for show.”
Another sceptic joked,
“He must be featured in the Guinness World Records — surviving 11 shots with zero scratches.”
Still, not everyone dismissed the story. Some pointed to Mogotsi’s role as a witness in the Madlanga Commission as motive for a possible warning or intimidation tactic.
“A message has been sent,” one commenter wrote. “He won’t testify.”
Others urged police to take his safety seriously.
“If he’s a state witness, the system should have him under protection,” said a user on X. “You can’t expect people to testify when they’re being hunted.”
Law enforcement analysts say both possibilities — a genuine hit or a staged attempt — must be thoroughly examined.
“This case needs clear forensics, ballistic reports, and digital data before anyone jumps to conclusions,” a former investigator told reporters. “But the public scepticism shows just how little trust remains between South Africans and those involved in politics, policing, and money.”
Meanwhile, police continue to gather evidence. Detectives have appealed for CCTV or dashcam footage from motorists who travelled between Mahikeng and Vosloorus around the time of the incident.
Brigadier Mathe stressed that every possibility remains open.
“We are treating this as a serious case until proven otherwise. Whether it was staged or genuine — the law will take its course.”
As the investigation unfolds, the spotlight remains firmly on Mogotsi — a man who claims to be the target of a hit, but who many now suspect may be playing a dangerous game of his own.
For now, one question echoes across social media and within the corridors of law enforcement:
Was this a real assassination attempt — or just another act in South Africa’s growing theatre of political survival?
