PRETORIA – Alleged political fixer Brown Mgotsi claims Madlanga Commission chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson wanted him to “throw North West businessman Suleiman Carrim under the bus”.
Mogotsi is pushing for Chaskalson to recuse himself and for an alternative evidence leader to be appointed to cross-examine him.
He has told the Commission through his legal representative Advocate Nthabiseng Mohumane that Chaskalson inappropriately pressured him to implicate Carrim by providing information that would be useful to the Commission.
But Chaskalson disputes the allegations. In his answering affidavit, he said it was in fact Mogotsi who initiated the communication with an offer to give him information about Carrim.
Without providing substantive evidence, Mohumane claimed Chaskalson had "promised" Mogotsi that if he gives information about Carrim, he would receive immunity. However, she later withdrew the allegations.
“It is undue influence to say help me and I will help you. He [Mogotsi] understood it to be some form of immunity," Mohumane said.
Co-commissioner Sesi Baloyi said Mogotsi's application was insufficient.
“How can this be a legitimate complaint? You offered. If the engagement is related to the information about Carrim which is offered, how can that be a legitimate complaint? Unless he [Mogotsi] wants to tell us, he was setting Chaskalson up so he can file this complaint.”
Commissioner Mbuyiseli Madlanga also said there was no basis for Chaskalson not to listen to the information Mogotsi offered.
He also questioned why Chaskalson would ask two other investigators to join him during the consultation with Mogotsi if his conduct was inappropriate.
The application continues.