ALLEGED political fixer Brown Mogotsi's fresh bid for freedom hit another snag on Monday, 22 June after the state accused him of trying to interfere with a key witness while behind bars.
Mogotsi returned to the Joburg Magistrates Court, hoping to secure bail after his first application was dismissed earlier in June 2026.
He faces charges of perjury, defeating the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The state alleged that Mogotsi staged a fake assassination attempt on himself in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni and used a firearm linked to other criminal investigations.
But in a dramatic twist, prosecutors told the court they have now uncovered evidence suggesting Mogotsi attempted to influence a witness linked to the case.
State prosecutor Thami Mphekana told the court that a witness, Thandiwe Senokoane, felt threatened after allegedly being approached several times by Mogotsi's wife, Dorothy Lekwaba, regarding a statement she had provided to investigators.
According to court papers, the investigating officer's concerns grew after receiving new information following Mogotsi's initial bail application.
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The court heard that on 5 June 2026, while Mogotsi was in custody, he allegedly phoned his wife, who then handed the phone to Senokoane.
Senokoane allegedly refused to speak to him.
The state claimed that this was the third attempt to pressure her into changing her version regarding one of the residential addresses Mogotsi had provided to the court.
Investigators further allege that Dorothy later visited Senokoane at her home and asked her to make a new statement confirming that Mogotsi lived at the address in question.
Senokoane allegedly told investigators she felt intimidated after being approached multiple times and eventually opened an intimidation case with the police.
The investigating officer told the court that these developments changed his view on whether Mogotsi could interfere with witnesses if released.
"I'm now of the view that the applicant can and will interfere with state witnesses directly and indirectly," the affidavit states.
The state further alleged that Mogotsi was able to communicate with witnesses from prison and could potentially coerce them into providing false statements.
However, Mogotsi's legal team strongly denied the allegations and disputed claims that any intimidating phone call was made.
The court also heard that the witness' statement relates to the controversy around one of the addresses Mogotsi submitted during his first bail application.
His initial bail bid was rejected after Magistrate Annalise Tlhapi found that he had failed to provide a verifiable residential address, with three different addresses presented to the court raising concerns that he could be a flight risk.
