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Police have connected firearms used in the killing of DJ Sumbody to at least 10 other high-profile crimes. These cases include both murders and attempted murders across Gauteng, according to latest court testimony and expert ballistics analysis.
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Four Suspects Arrested, Face Serious Charges
Four men appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday: Katiso “KT” Molefe, Michael Pule Tau, Musa Kekana, and Tiego Floyd Mabusela. Officers from the SAPS’s political killings task team and Gauteng organised crime detectives arrested them on Monday. The group faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and illegal ammunition.
Molefe Allegedly Ordered the Hit on DJ Sumbody
Detectives believe Molefe, a Sandton businessman, gave the order for DJ Sumbody’s murder. His three co-accused allegedly carried out the hit. The crime took place on 20 November 2022 in Woodmead, Gauteng. DJ Sumbody real name Oupa John Sefoka died in a drive-by shooting, as did his two bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza.
Case Postponed to Finalise Bail Applications
NPA Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the case was postponed to 29 July. Molefe plans to apply for bail. “We are finalising the investigation in terms of the bail application that must be heard by the court. We are concluding those investigations, which will include profiling of the accused who wants to bring the formal bail application,” she said. The state intends to oppose the application.
Suspects Also Linked to Engineer’s Murder
The four accused are also connected to the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, who was shot 23 times outside his workplace on 17 April 2024. Police suspect Swart died in a case of mistaken identity. The actual target had exposed a Transnet tender price inflation scandal.
Guns Seized and Ballistically Linked
Police seized four firearms three pistols and one AK-47 on the day they killed Swart, according to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. Officers sent the weapons straight for ballistics testing. “Police have held these firearms in custody since then. Officers immediately seized and tested them. Police arrested the three hitmen that same day,” Mathe said.
When the political killings task team joined the investigation in December 2024, they ran more ballistics tests. These tests confirmed the same guns were used in DJ Sumbody’s murder. As a result, police arrested Molefe. “Police have linked all four firearms, including the AK-47, to at least 10 high-profile cases involving murder and attempted murder,” Mathe told reporters on Tuesday. “We are not discussing those other cases yet.”
Suspects Held at Separate Facilities for Security
Mjonondwane explained that authorities made the decision to keep Molefe, Kekana, Tau, and Mabusela in separate prisons to maintain the integrity of the investigation. “The prosecution, working together with the investigating officer, concluded that it will be best for him to be separated from the other accused who are in Johannesburg prison, also known as Sun City, and the other is at Modderbee Correctional Centre,” she told the media outside court.
This approach helps prevent any collusion between the suspects while investigators build their case. By isolating Molefe, police hope to block any attempts to coordinate stories or intimidate witnesses during this critical phase of the investigation. The move also aims to ensure a fair trial by removing any risk of interference that could undermine justice for both the victims and the accused.
Court Explains Delay in DJ Sumbody Case Resolution
Mathe explained that complex investigations sometimes take time. “There are cases that are easy to solve, there are those that are complex and that require time, and I think DJ Sumbody’s case is one of those cases that required time because it required that we piece evidence together.”
Murder Weapons Also Used in Attempted Hit on Actress
Police have linked two of the accused, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Musa Kekana, to the attempted murder of actress and influencer Tebogo Thobejane. Gunmen ambushed and shot at her car on the N1 near Sandton in October 2023. Police also arrested her former partner, businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, for this crime, and he remains in custody.
A fifth suspect, 23-year-old Nthabiseng Nzama, appeared in court on money laundering charges. She is the daughter of one of the alleged hitmen. Mjonondwane confirmed the court will process her bail application next. Investigators expect further details about her role to emerge during court proceedings.
Task Team’s Future Clouded by Political Drama
Meanwhile, Mathe commented on the uncertain future of the SAPS’s political killings task team, now handling only historical cases. This follows recent claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu disbanded the team to protect politically linked criminals. A commission of inquiry will investigate these allegations.
The link between DJ Sumbody’s murder weapons and ten other high-profile cases sends a clear message about organised crime in Gauteng. The arrests represent a major milestone for law enforcement, but the investigation is far from over. As police continue to piece together the evidence, more arrests and charges seem likely. The victims and their families hope these developments will finally lead to justice.
