South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on 9 July acknowledged that he "knows and has met" businessman Brown Mogotsi, describing him as a political "comrade". The admission marks a reversal of the minister’s 5 March remarks in Parliament, when he dismissed Mogotsi as "some fellow" and denied any association. Pressure on Mchunu intensified after KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi told lawmakers last weekend that Mogotsi had contacted him claiming to accompany the minister on an official trip, prompting an internal probe. Parliamentary Police Portfolio Committee chair Ian Cameron said the minister’s latest statement appears to contradict his earlier testimony and raises questions about transparency within the ministry. Mchunu insists he has no close ties to Mogotsi beyond party comradeship and maintains the businessman holds no formal role in police operations. Opposition legislators have called for a fuller explanation, signalling potential hearings when Parliament reconvenes.