A firearm linked to controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi has reportedly been connected to several violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, robbery and hijacking cases in Roodepoort and Eldorado Park, according to police investigations and court details.
Mogotsi made a brief appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where he faces charges linked to an alleged staged assassination attempt against himself. The case has drawn widespread public attention due to the serious allegations surrounding him and the broader criminal links now being examined by investigators.
### Ballistic links raise wider criminal concerns
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said preliminary ballistic reports suggest the firearm allegedly used in the incident involving Mogotsi is not an isolated weapon. Instead, it appears to have been used in multiple previous crimes over several years.
Investigators have linked the gun to a 2020 armed robbery in Roodepoort, where a motorist was held at gunpoint during an attack. The same firearm is also believed to have been used in a deadly 2021 shooting at a drinking spot in Eldorado Park, where one man was killed and another injured.
Authorities say these links were established after spent cartridges recovered from earlier crime scenes were matched to the weapon through forensic analysis.
While the firearm has been tied to these incidents, police have stressed that Mogotsi is not necessarily being charged in relation to the earlier murder or robbery cases. Investigations into those crimes are still ongoing.
### Alleged staged attack under scrutiny
The current case against Mogotsi stems from a November 2025 incident in which he claimed he was ambushed by armed men while driving in Vosloorus. According to earlier reports, his vehicle was shot at multiple times during what was initially believed to be an attempted hit.
However, police later began investigating the possibility that the attack may have been staged. Officers recovered multiple cartridges at the scene and launched a deeper forensic probe into the weapon used.
Mogotsi now faces charges including possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice.
### Court proceedings and ongoing investigation
During his court appearance, the matter was postponed to allow prosecutors time to verify details ahead of a formal bail application. Mogotsi remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Police say a multidisciplinary team is still working to trace the origin of the firearm and determine how it became linked to multiple violent crimes across Gauteng.
Authorities have also indicated that the broader investigation could uncover further connections between the weapon and other unresolved cases.
### Wider implications
The case has sparked renewed attention on firearm circulation in criminal networks and the role of ballistic evidence in linking separate crimes. Investigators say such links often help uncover patterns of organised criminal activity that may otherwise go unnoticed.
As the matter proceeds, Mogotsi’s legal team is expected to challenge the evidence linking him to the alleged staged shooting and argue for bail at the next court appearance.
The case is set to return to court later this month as police continue their probe into both the firearm’s history and the circumstances surrounding the alleged fake assassination attempt.
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