The bail application of businessman Brown Mogotsi in the Johannesburg magistrate’s court has been dominated by a dispute over the validity of his residential address, with prosecutors questioning whether he has a verifiable and consistent place of residence.

Mogotsi is facing charges including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place, and defeating the ends of justice.The state presented evidence suggesting inconsistencies in the address details provided by Mogotsi and his legal team.Investigators told the court that they visited a property linked to a GPS location submitted on Mogotsi’s behalf.

At the residence, they encountered a woman identified as Dorothy Ledwaba, who described herself as Mogotsi’s customary wife and produced identification documents.However, police testified that the house number she provided, 4544, did not match the number listed in court documents, which referenced 4454.

Further concerns were raised about the lack of substantial personal belongings linked to Mogotsi at the property, with officers noting only minimal clothing found and no strong documentary evidence tying him to the residence.

The state also challenged the validity of a lease agreement submitted in support of his bail application, stating that municipal records indicate the property belongs to the Mahikeng local municipality and is leased to another party.Mogotsi’s defence team dismissed the discrepancies as honest administrative errors rather than intentional misrepresentation.

They argued that the address variation was a minor numerical mistake within the same area and maintained that the presence of some belongings confirmed his residence there.

The defence also argued that Mogotsi is not a flight risk, citing his public profile, business interests, family responsibilities, and previous appearances before public commissions.

The prosecution, however, argued that the inconsistencies and difficulties in verifying his residence raise concerns about his reliability and suitability for bail.Mogotsi indicated he could afford R10,000 bail, while the state proposed R100,000.The court has reserved judgment until 4 June.