Minister Gayton McKenzie insists Kenny Kunene was 'set up' in DJ Sumbody murder case link
'If there's a murder that happened and there are only two suspects, me and Kenny, I must be the main suspect. You know, Kenny could've had a gun, had a fly,' McKenzie said on the sidelines of the National Assembly in Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon.
'That guy has such a soft character. Let me tell you, the mistake with him - that's my fight with him always - is that he's too accessible. You call Kenny and ask, 'Where are you?' He says, 'I'm in the squatter camp; there's a party going on.' Next time, 'I'm in the suburbs meeting someone.' He's never at home. He's always busy, and he's accessible.'
McKenzie, who also serves as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture and met Kunene while the two were in prison years ago, strongly defended him, maintaining Kunene had no involvement and was likely 'set up.'
'But I can tell you, man, he doesn't believe it was a setup, but I do…He says to me, 'No, no, it wasn't a setup. It was pure coincidence.' I said to him, 'You were there during the time of the arrest.' I have no proof, but I can't say for a fact - I just have a gut feeling.'
He said only a proper investigation can prove what really happened.
'People must also know we've worked very hard to rebuild our reputation coming from jail. We've worked very, very hard. We will never - and I'm speaking for Mr. Kunene - we will never risk that by associating with these guys, even if they did this thing,' McKenzie said.
'If they are guilty... I was just looking at this thing - one gun killing ten people.'
'These are images from the crime underworld. Why would we even mix with criminals? I know about crime. When I heard that one gun killed ten people, I already knew we were dealing with crime figures.'
'I want to congratulate the cops again - I'm glad they caught them, and you will not find me or Mr. Kunene in the company of such people. What happened was very unfortunate,' he added.
McKenzie added that a law firm to investigate Kunene's involvement would be announced on Friday.
On Tuesday, McKenzie also defended Kunene after he was found at the home of the alleged mastermind behind DJ Sumbody's murder, saying that 'he is innocent and has got nothing to hide.'
Speaking in a Facebook Live session on Tuesday night, McKenzie said he had spoken to Kunene on Monday while he was in Namibia and was assured Kunene had done nothing wrong.
'He said, 'Yeah, I went there.' He was supposed to meet someone, and that person told him to meet at that house and sent a location pin. It was his first time at the house,' McKenzie said.
He said Kunene told him he did not know the owner of the house, identified as Sandton businessman Katiso 'KT' Molefe, who was arrested on Monday in connection with the 2022 murder of DJ Sumbody, whose real name was Oupa John Sefoka.
'When he got there, they were just sitting... He doesn't know Molefe,' McKenzie said.
'He knows the other guy who sent the location pin. The police came, told everyone to get on the floor. Kenny complied.'
According to McKenzie, police asked Kunene if he knew Molefe.
However, Kunene said he did not and explained someone else had sent the location. Police searched his phone and found no communication with Molefe, McKenzie said.
'They came back and said, 'Kenny, we're sorry. Here's your phone. You can leave,'' he added.
IOL News previously reported that Kunene later confirmed that he was at Molefe's house at the time of the arrest.
He said he was there with a young journalist from his media company to allow Molefe to respond to the murder allegations.
McKenzie said he received several calls from journalists asking whether he believed Kunene's version of events.
'100%, I do. I believe in him 100%. Let me tell you who Kenny Kunene is. People think Kenny is my friend. Kenny was my friend - he's now a brother to me.'
McKenzie added that Kunene inspired him to turn his life around in prison.
'Kenny is the godfather of my children. I'm the godfather of his. I don't even hang out with Kenny... he's a socialite; I'm not. But I know Kenny, and I know he's not a violent person.'
He also claimed that Kunene admired DJ Sumbody and other deejays.
'He loved DJ Sumbody. He had nothing to gain by being involved in such a thing. That's not him,' McKenzie said.
'I personally think he was set up. Kenny doesn't believe that, but I do. I can't prove it yet, but this thing smells like a setup.'
McKenzie has since announced that he placed Kunene on a 30-day leave of absence from his role as MMC and from all party duties pending the outcome of the internal investigation.
'It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do - ask Kenny Kunene to step aside. But the party must always come first. No one is bigger than the party.'
He said a team of independent lawyers would be appointed to probe Kunene's presence at Molefe's home, with findings expected within 30 days.
'This is a serious allegation. Even though I believe he's innocent, the matter must be thoroughly investigated,' McKenzie said.
Kunene's visit came just as there was a major breakthrough in the DJ Sumbody murder case.
On Tuesday, the Alexandra Magistrate's Court granted the state a seven-day postponement in the case involving four men charged in the November 2022 triple murder.
The accused, Michael Pule Tau, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, Musa Kekana, and Molefe, face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the deaths of DJ Sumbody and his bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza.
Prosecutors said the postponement was necessary to investigate new leads following the suspects' arrests across Gauteng earlier this week.
[email protected]
IOL Politics
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
26 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Online dating site serial rapist and murderer arrested in Limpopo
The suspect was linked to over ten cases of rape and murder. A 37-year-old online dating serial rapist and killer who has been terrorising a community in Gauteng has been arrested, Limpopo police said. The suspect was handcuffed during a joint operation by the Limpopo Tracking Team, Limpopo Provincial Investigation Unit, Silverton Detectives and Tshwane District Detectives conducted between the evening of Sunday and early hours of Monday at Mentz village, under the Mankweng Policing area, in Limpopo. Tinder swindler Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspect was using a popular dating site to lure his female victims. 'According to information, the suspect utilized a 'Tinder' dating site to lure his victims to his residence in Eesterust, Pretoria, Gauteng province. He allegedly raped some of his victims, until the recent incident wherein he raped and killed the victim, thereafter buried her in a shallow grave in his residence.' Ledwaba said the matter was brought to the police's attention and 'massive investigations were conducted.' 'A thorough investigation was conducted, resulting in the arrest of the suspect at his hiding place, in Mentz village, Mankweng Policing area, Limpopo province. He was linked with over ten cases of rape and murder.' ALSO READ: Man arrested for using fake Facebook profile to lure, kidnap, and rape women Warning The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has cautioned the community members, especially women, to be very careful when using dating sites, because they might fall victim to crime. 'As we celebrate women's month, let's be cautious at all times, and we should mind who we associate ourselves with. 'Report any suspicious movements or abuse to the police, always share your location with your family and avoid meeting strangers at private spaces,' said Hadebe. Investigations Ledwaba said the suspect is expected to appear before the Pretoria Central Magistrate's Court, facing several cases of rape, murder and defeating the ends of justice. Police have urged people who were victimised by Tinder suspects or other suspects to report to their local police stations to assist officers with ongoing investigations. ALSO READ: Parents warned against posting photos of kids online amid kidnapping concerns
Daily Maverick
8 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
The price of going viral – when political activism becomes very expensive
In an age where a single WhatsApp message can mobilise protesters and a Facebook post can shape public opinion about workplace disputes, the traditional boundaries between political activism and trade union representation are blurring in ways that would have been unimaginable a generation ago. The recent labour court judgment in Boomerang Fruits (Pty) Ltd v Umkhonto weSizwe and Others offers a stark reminder that these boundaries exist for good reasons and that crossing them can have serious legal consequences – particularly when amplified through digital platforms that can transform minor workplace grievances into viral political campaigns. From payroll error to digital political theatre The case began with a seemingly mundane payroll error. Agricultural workers at a fruit farm in Elgin in the Western Cape were underpaid overtime wages ranging from R120 to R176 per person – hardly the stuff of revolutionary politics. Yet within days, this minor administrative mistake had escalated into a full-blown industrial dispute involving police escorts, highway blockades, criminal charges and a sophisticated digital media campaign that branded the employer across multiple online platforms as racist and colonial. The transformation was breathtakingly swift. What might once have taken weeks of careful union organisation now unfolded in real time across social media networks. The Umkhonto weSizwe party (MK) didn't simply insert itself into the dispute – it digitally amplified it, using Facebook posts, press releases and WhatsApp groups to craft a narrative that reached far beyond the farm gates of the Western Cape. The digital disruption of industrial relations The involvement of the MK party demonstrates how political parties have learned to exploit the digital revolution in ways that fundamentally challenge traditional industrial relations. When employees contacted the party for assistance, the MK party didn't simply offer advice or direct workers to appropriate legal channels. Instead, it created a parallel digital infrastructure that bypassed established negotiation mechanisms entirely. The party's WhatsApp communications coordinated meetings with management, its Facebook posts generated public sympathy for workers, and its press releases shaped media coverage – all while maintaining the pretence of merely providing 'advisory' support. This digital orchestration allowed the MK party to function as a shadow trade union while avoiding the legal responsibilities that formal representation would entail. Judge Robert Lagrange's judgment methodically dissected this digital strategy, concluding that the MK party had 'consistently assumed the role of the representative of the strikers' while simultaneously 'launching a media attack on Boomerang, portraying it in villainous terms'. The court recognised that in the digital age, representation isn't just about formal negotiations – it's about controlling the narrative that shapes public perception and influences the balance of power. The legal principle at stake is both simple and profound, but its application has become infinitely more complex in the digital era. South Africa's industrial relations system was designed for an analogue world where disputes unfolded in board rooms and on factory floors, not on social media platforms where every statement can be screenshot, shared and weaponised. The social media amplification effect The court's analysis of the MK party's digital campaign reveals how social media has fundamentally altered the dynamics of labour disputes. Traditional negotiation assumes a degree of privacy that allows parties to make concessions without losing face publicly. Digital platforms destroy this privacy, creating performative pressures that make compromise virtually impossible. The MK party's Facebook posts describing the company as a 'colonial nest' and 'active site of colonial exploitation' weren't just political rhetoric – they were strategic digital content designed to generate shares, comments and viral engagement. The party understood that in the attention economy, inflammatory language performs better than nuanced analysis. The result was a digital firestorm that bore little resemblance to the original overtime payment dispute. WhatsApp democracy and workplace organising Perhaps most significantly, the case highlights how WhatsApp has become a significant organising tool for both legitimate trade union activity and political interference. The MK party's use of WhatsApp groups to coordinate with workers, arrange meetings and distribute talking points created an informal, but highly effective communication network that traditional employers and unions struggle to understand or counter. This 'WhatsApp democracy' operates outside formal industrial relations structures, creating new possibilities for worker organisation, but also new vulnerabilities to political manipulation. The platform's end-to-end encryption makes it nearly impossible for employers to understand how disputes are being coordinated, while its group messaging functionality allows political parties to influence large numbers of workers simultaneously. The judgment also reveals how digital platforms have created expectations of real-time transparency that clash with the traditionally private nature of labour negotiations. The MK party's social media strategy assumed that followers expected constant updates, behind-the-scenes content and immediate responses to developments. This digital transparency imperative makes the patient, confidential work of genuine dispute resolution nearly impossible. When every negotiation session can be livestreamed, every concession can be immediately scrutinised by online audiences, and every statement can be taken out of context and shared widely, the incentives shift dramatically towards performative confrontation rather than problem-solving. Political parties, with their natural understanding of digital engagement, are far better positioned to exploit these dynamics than traditional trade unions or employers. Digital accountability and legal consequences Judge Lagrange's decision to confirm the interdict against the MK party represents one of the first serious judicial attempts to grapple with how digital platforms are reshaping labour relations. The court recognised that social media posts and WhatsApp messages aren't just commentary – they constitute active participation in labour disputes with real legal consequences. The costs order against the MK party is particularly significant in the digital context. By requiring the party to pay the employer's legal costs, the court has established that viral social media campaigns carry financial risks. This digital accountability principle could fundamentally alter how political parties approach online labour activism. The broader implications extend far beyond this single case. Digital platforms don't just amplify existing power dynamics – they create entirely new ones. Political parties that master social media engagement can mobilise workers more effectively than traditional trade unions, but they lack the institutional knowledge and legal obligations that make genuine representation possible. The result is what might be called 'algorithm activism' – political engagement optimised for digital metrics rather than real-world outcomes. The MK party's campaign generated thousands of shares and comments, but it ultimately prolonged the dispute and harmed the workers it claimed to represent. The digital medium had become the message, drowning out the substance of legitimate workplace grievances. Towards digital industrial relations As South Africa grapples with persistent inequality and workplace exploitation, the intersection of digital technology and labour relations will only become more complex. The Boomerang Fruits case provides a crucial precedent for how courts might approach political parties that use social media to blur the lines between advocacy and representation. The challenge ahead is developing industrial relations frameworks that can harness the democratising potential of digital platforms while preventing their exploitation by political opportunists. This will require new forms of digital literacy among trade unionists, employers and judges, as well as clearer legal guidelines about what constitutes impermissible political interference in the social media age. The labour court's firm stance in this case demonstrates that legal principles can adapt to technological change, but only if we remain vigilant about protecting the institutional boundaries that make effective labour relations possible.
TimesLIVE
11 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Botswana President Duma Boko stuns in skinny jeans and sneakers during Zambia visit
Botswana President Duma Boko has sparked a debate after making a bold fashion statement during his visit to Zambia for the 97th Agricultural and Commercial Show. Boko was spotted wearing a pair of skinny jeans with a torn design, Palladium boots, a sweater and cap, while other guests, including Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema, were dressed in suits. His look sparked mixed reactions among social media users, with some criticising him while others complimented his fashion sense. Boko is no stranger to making headlines. The 55-year-old president is known for his modest sense of style. Facebook user Mark Kandeke believed Boko wanted to try something different from the typical formal presidential look. 'Unconventional, but it looks like President Boko took 'dress for comfort' to diplomatic heights! Maybe he was trying to prove that it's not the suit that leads the nation; it's the man in it, even if that man is in ripped jeans and sneakers.' Van Huba Ozil Bellerin said Boko should dress however he wants. 'A president is and must also be an ordinary citizen. There's nothing special about suits. You need a president, a leader, not just the suit. Zvenyu Bots.' Alfred Ncube said, 'Not much different from wearing a suit at a military parade, though he must take formal events seriously. He should go to diplomacy school. Next time, he'll go to the White House in jogger shorts.' Milton Njoloma said Boko should have dressed more formally. 'Protocol requires that he dresses in a formal manner. This president was just being disrespectful to his hosts. Next time, he might turn up in shorts and underpants, and that is OK with him. No way.' Israel Pagiwa said, 'This is a ceremonial event. President must put on suit but it's also official as a sign of showing respect not putting jean dress before ceremonial parade. Advise him properly.'
