Controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has apologised for not appearing to to the Madlanga Commission on Monday.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Media
Commission chair, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has criticised a medical certificate submitted by witness Brown Mogotsi, describing it as “useless” and considering that it certificate should be submitted to the medical council for scrutiny.
Mogotsi was scheduled to testify before the commission on Monday but failed to appear.
A medical certificate he submitted stated only that he had a “medical condition” and would be able to testify after March 3, 2026.
Evidence leader Thabang Pooe told the commission he had been asked to account for Mogotsi’s absence.
Madlanga said the commission has recently been confronted with a growing number of what he called “bothersome” sick notes, often received on the day a witness is due to testify.
He said this practice disrupts proceedings and undermines the Commission’s tight schedule.
“It impacts negatively on the commission’s scheduling because once we do not have a witness, and we usually get to know that on the day, we lose time because we do not sit,” Madlanga said.
He added that the disruption is more serious when a witness is scheduled for more than one day, as postponements affect other pre-arranged hearing dates.
Madlanga said the medical certificates received by the commission frequently lack sufficient detail.
In Mogotsi’s case, the initial certificate merely stated “medical condition,” prompting the Commission to request a second note clarifying the illness.
“Just saying ‘medical condition’ — that’s useless. It doesn’t assist us,” he said.The chairperson said the Commission is now seriously considering calling doctors who issue such certificates to testify.
He also said questionable medical notes could be referred to the HPCSA for evaluation.
“We have very limited time to finalise our investigation,” Madlanga said, stressing that incomplete medical certificates hinder the Commission’s work.
Mogotsi later provided further explanation for his absence and apologised to the Commission.
He said he became ill after returning from Cape Town, experiencing diarrhoea, pressure and dizziness.
“I really have to apologise. I was very ill and very dizzy also,” he said, maintaining that he had previously cooperated fully with the inquiry.
Madlanga postponed Mogotsi’s testimony to a date still to be determined.
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