Alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi will remain behind bars after the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court dismissed his second application for bail, finding that he had failed to present any new facts that would justify his release while awaiting trial.

Magistrate Annelise Thlapi handed down the ruling on Monday, saying the defence had merely reorganised evidence already placed before the court rather than introducing fresh information that could alter the previous decision to deny bail.

“The court has considered all the evidence and found there are no new facts, but merely a reshuffling of the evidence,” Thlapi ruled.

The matter has been postponed to 8 July for the allocation of a trial date.

Mogotsi has been in custody since his arrest on 15 May and is facing a string of Schedule 5 charges arising from an alleged staged assassination attempt in Vosloorus in November 2025.

The charges include perjury, defeating the ends of justice, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place, and attempting to bribe an investigating officer.

According to the State, ballistic evidence links the firearm allegedly used in the incident to other serious crimes, including murder. Prosecutors have also told the court that the firearm has not yet been recovered, forming part of their argument that Mogotsi should remain in custody pending trial.

Despite Monday’s setback, Mogotsi’s legal team has indicated that the fight for his release is far from over.

His attorney, Makau William Sekgatja, confirmed that the defence intends to appeal the ruling in the High Court.

Sekgatja expressed disappointment with the magistrate’s decision, maintaining that the defence had presented all the necessary evidence in support of bail.

He argued that Mogotsi’s continued detention makes it difficult for legal representatives to consult with him and adequately prepare for the upcoming trial.

The lawyer also raised concerns about possible implications arising from the ongoing Madlanga Commission, suggesting that developments there could affect his client.

Sekgatja further rejected allegations that Mogotsi had intimidated State witnesses, insisting there was no basis for those claims.

The State has consistently opposed bail, arguing that the seriousness of the charges and the nature of the alleged offences warrant Mogotsi remaining in custody while criminal proceedings continue.

Monday’s ruling marks the second unsuccessful attempt by Mogotsi to secure his release.

The case has attracted widespread public attention because of Mogotsi’s alleged political connections and the circumstances surrounding the alleged fake assassination plot.

The latest court decision also sparked fresh debate on social media platform X, where South Africans expressed mixed reactions to the magistrate’s ruling.

One user welcomed the decision, writing: “To learn that Brown Mogotsi’s bail application is denied again should be a lesson to other criminals. At this point if I were him I would focus on preparing for the court case and stop nagging.”

Another user commented: “Don’t be like Brown Mogotsi, have a home and an address that has your name when you are a person,” referring to issues raised during previous bail proceedings relating to his residential address.

A third user suggested that Mogotsi should consider cooperating with prosecutors.

“Brown Mogotsi should just forget about the bail, spill the beans and enter into a plea bargain with the NPA like Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Things are not going well for him at the moment,” the user wrote.

The comments reflect growing public interest in the case, although the views expressed on social media do not form part of the evidence before the court.

For now, Mogotsi will remain in custody as preparations continue for trial.

His legal team is expected to file an appeal against the bail ruling in the High Court, while the State prepares to proceed with prosecution on the charges linked to the alleged staged assassination attempt.

When the matter returns to the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 8 July, the court is expected to allocate a trial date, setting the stage for the next phase of what is likely to remain one of the country’s closely watched criminal cases.