Latest news with #Vereeniging
Eyewitness News
8 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Police probing 10 high-profile cases in connection with AK-47 linked to Katiso Molefe
JOHANNESBURG - With an AK-47 rifle being used to connect controversial businessman Katiso 'KT' Molefe to several crimes, the police said they are investigating ten high-profile cases linked to the weapon. On Tuesday, Molefe was charged with the murder of another musician, Hector Buthelezi, known as DJ Vintos. ALSO READ: Ballistic testing links Katiso 'KT' Molefe to AK-47 rifle used in murders of DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos This is in addition to the murder of Oupa Sefoka, known as DJ Sombody, and Armand Swart, a Vereeniging engineer who was killed in a mistaken identity hit. His accused, who are the alleged hitmen, have also been charged with the murder of a man identified as Don Tindleni. Molefe's charge sheet is getting longer as he was slammed with a third murder case, which is also a hit, for the 2022 killing of Buthelezi. Buthelezi was shot outside a nightclub in Orlando East, Soweto, with the suspects firing shots while driving by. Police said his murder has been linked to that of DJ Somebody and Swart, who was mistakenly shot during a hit with an AK-47 rifle and two pistols. Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said more links could be made. 'I had indicated that we are investigating 10 high-profile cases where these firearms are being linked to, so now we are at number 4.' Meanwhile, Molefe's bid for bail will continue in the Alexandra Magistrates Court next week.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Two more murder cases linked to suspects in DJ Sumbody killing
So far, the accused have been linked to a total of four murder cases, which will be centralised Businessman Katiso 'KT' Molefe and three alleged hitmen appear at Alexandra Magistrate's Court in connection with the murder of DJ Sumbody on 29 July 2025. Picture: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo Two additional murder cases have been linked to controversial businessman Katiso 'KT' Molefe and the three men charged alongside him in the killing of South African artist Oupa John Sefoka, widely known as DJ Sumbody. Molefe, along with former police detective Michael Pule Tau, Musa Kekana, and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, made a second appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The four men face charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of illegal ammunition. ALSO READ: DJ Sumbody's family welcomes the arrests of suspects and thanks police Molefe is believed to have ordered the hit on Sefoka, while his three co-accused allegedly carried it out. Sefoka was killed in a drive-by shooting in Woodmead, Gauteng, in November 2022. His two bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza, were also shot and killed at the scene. The four accused are also suspects in the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, who was gunned down outside his workplace in April 2024. Swart was shot 23 times. That case is currently before the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. More charges added as DJ Sumbody murder case postponed On Tuesday, it was revealed that the accused now face charges in connection with two more murder cases. The first involves the killing of Hector Buthelezi, known as DJ Vintos. The second case concerns the murder of Don Tindleni, who was killed on the N1 highway in Johannesburg in March 2023. Speaking outside court, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe provided further details on the new charges, revealing that Buthelezi was gunned down outside a nightclub in Orlando East, Soweto, in March 2022. 'He was killed in a hail of bullets. At the time, the suspects were driving a BMW X3. His killers were never found,' she said. READ MORE: DJ Sumbody's murder exposes connection between crime and power Mathe told the media that the four firearms – three pistols and one AK-47 – seized when Kekana, Tau and Mabusela were arrested on the same day Swart was killed, have now been linked to the murders of Buthelezi and Tindleni. 'We don't only have the ballistics expert report that is linking these suspects to these particular hits. There's other overwhelming evidence that suggests that they are involved in the murders of these victims.' However, Mathe clarified that Molefe has not been charged in the Tindleni case. 'We are only adding the three hitmen. We are still investigating who the mastermind behind the Don Tindeni murder is, and we are hoping that in no time that information will come to light.' Mathe also confirmed that Molefe's bail application has been postponed to 6 August. His co-accused have opted not to seek bail. She added that the police continue to investigate other high-profile cases, some of which have also been linked through ballistic tests. One trial? In response to how these cases will be managed, Mathe said the state is working to consolidate them into a single trial. 'We are told that they are going to be centralised so Armand Swart's case, DJ Vintos, Don Tindleni, DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards, those cases will be heard in one court. 'It's the same charges in all these cases.' Mathe further addressed the attempted murder case involving actress and influencer Tebogo Thobejane, where Mabusela and Kekana are suspects. 'Only two hitmen are linked to that particular case, but in terms of the firearm that was used, we are still looking for it. 'The AK-47 and the three pistols are linked to the four other cases but not yet the Tebogo Thobejane case.' She concluded that the motive behind the murders will not yet be made public. 'The motive, for now that's still going to come out in court, so we're not going to rush to speculate. Our investigators are still hard at work in piecing together some information, obviously closing the loopholes and the gaps.' NOW READ: Firearms used in DJ Sumbody's murder linked to 10 other high-profile cases
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
DJ Vintos hit linked to DJ Sumbody murder accused KT Molefe
Sandton businessman Katiso 'KT' Molefe, 61, who is accused of the murder of Pretoria club owner Oupa John Sefoka, better known as DJ Sumbody, is allegedly linked to a hit on Soweto's DJ Vintos. This emerged after a brief appearance by Molefe and co-accused Michael Pule Tau, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Musa Kekana at the Alexandra magistrate's court on Tuesday. The four are charged with the April 2024 murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, who was killed in an alleged case of mistaken identity after his company blew the whistle on tender corruption. The three co-accused were arrested in connection with the Swart case and the weapons, an AK47 rifles and three pistols, allegedly found in their possession were sent for ballistics tests. The weapons led police to the November 2022 murder of DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza, in Woodmead, Johannesburg.
Daily Maverick
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
‘He would never get involved with murders,' says Gayton McKenzie after suspending Kenny Kunene
Now placed on a month's leave over alleged ties to an accused criminal mastermind, Kenny Kunene has spoken out about the 'dramatic' arrest, but questions remain about the purpose of the meeting and the identity of the unnamed 'young journalist' he was accompanying. Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie says the decision to place his second in command, Kenny Kunene, on a month's suspension amid an internal investigation over links to an alleged criminal mastermind is the hardest decision he has made in his life. McKenzie announced the decision during a Facebook Live session on Tuesday evening, 22 July, hours after police found the Johannesburg mayoral committee member (MMC) for transport at the Sandton house of murder accused Katiso 'KT' Molefe. Molefe was arrested in connection with the killing of Oupa Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody, in a 2022 drive-by shooting in Woodmead, Johannesburg. He died alongside his bodyguard after the vehicle they were travelling in was peppered with bullets. He is also accused of the killing of Armand Swart, a Vereeniging engineer who was murdered after his company reportedly raised concerns about price gouging in a Transnet tender, according to police. 'Kenny Kunene will be investigated, and I am going to tell you who is going to investigate him – lawyers of good character. And while he's being investigated, I'm going to remove him from being an MMC,' McKenzie said. 'I'm also going to tell him to stand back from politics for one month until the investigation is done. That's the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. McKenzie took the decision to launch an investigation despite saying 'I believe Kenny 100%', raising concerns about the credibility of the process. He said would make the investigation's findings public. In a social media post, McKenzie wrote: 'I can't expect everyone to believe him, hence we are launching a full investigation to prove what we know, which is that he is innocent.' Kunene was appointed MMC in the City of Gold in February 2023 and has also acted as the city's mayor, filling in for both former mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and current mayor Dada Morero. Despite his short tenure, he positioned himself as a proactive leader by conducting site visits to depots, roadworks and bus infrastructure hubs, and leading raids on hijacked buildings and illegal connections, often a thorny issue. His past includes a criminal conviction. In 1997, he was sentenced to six years in prison for fraud after being found guilty of running a Ponzi scheme. At the time, he worked as an English teacher but became involved in criminal activity while selling alcohol after hours. 'Dramatic' arrest Speaking to SABC News about the visit to Molefe's home, it would appear that he went in his capacity as the owner of online publication African News Global. Kunene told the broadcaster he was in the company of an unmanned person who had arranged the meeting with Molefe who claimed he had never met or interacted with him before. They were with an unnamed journalist who was set to conduct an exclusive interview with Molefe. 'We are not friends. I think if you look at my online newspaper, it hasn't been that active and I decided to put together some young people that can run with it, that are interested in the media space, to resuscitate it, obviously, and its own tradition. It has always focused on exclusive stories…' Molefe's arrest took place within seconds of the trio arriving on the premises. They were in the driveway and were yet to enter the house. Kunene described the scene as 'dramatic' as police kicked the gate, having showed up with rifles and V-Class vehicles. Upon establishing that Molefe was the owner of the house, he was handcuffed while Kunene was being interrogated about their relationship. 'The police asked me if I had a number for Mr Molefe and I told them I don't, they can take my phone and search it. They asked how I got here, and I said the person I came with had sent me the address, and I showed it to them on my phone,' Kunene said. McKenzie has stood by Kunene, who he said was not just a friend of his but a brother, and godfather of his children who would never associate with murderers. 'I know Kenny Kunene. People think he's my friend but he's not. He was my friend, but he went past that and became a brother I never had. He's the one person who made me change my life in jail. He's the godfather of my children. I'm the godfather of his children. 'He would never get involved with murders. That's not him. He's a good man. He would never hurt a fly; he's not a violent person. I know he's innocent,' he said on Facebook Live. Opposition calls for action The DA in Johannesburg has since called on Morero to remove Kunene from his post as MMC permanently, saying a paid month-long day holiday was not enough. 'Hanging out with suspected murderers and bringing the entire executive into disrepute is punishable, and Morero must act,' said Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku. Kayser-Echeozonjoku also raised questions about McKenzie's investigation. 'Unfortunately for McKenzie, we do not have faith in his so-called internal investigation. Especially not as he has already made his belief in Kunene's innocence so clear.' ActionSA echoed similar sentiments, adding that public representatives ought to uphold the highest standards of integrity both in their official capacity and in private conduct. 'When such standards are brought into question, the legitimacy and credibility of the broader administration are inevitably placed at risk,' said Lebo Mokoka, the party's regional secretary. On the decision to place Kunene on a 30-day leave of absence from party activities and to relieve him of his duties on the mayoral committee, the party said: 'This is a necessary step. However, any conduct that undermines public confidence in the City's leadership must be confronted with full transparency and accountability.' DM
IOL News
23-07-2025
- IOL News
EFF welcomes arrests in the DJ Sumbody murder investigation
Four men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a popular South African DJ, Oupa John Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody. Image: Social Media The EFF has welcomed the arrest of four suspects linked to the murder of Oupa John Sefoka, known as DJ Sumbody. This follows their appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, after being arrested on Monday afternoon. Their matter was subsequently postponed to July 29 with reports that one of the suspects is a known businessman, identified as Katiso Molefe, while the rest are alleged hitmen. The police further allege that the suspects are linked to 10 other high-profile cases, including the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart. "The [police] team arrested four men between the ages of 45 and 60 in connection with the murder of a popular South African DJ, Oupa John Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody. Michael Pule, Floyd Mabusela, Mosa Kekana, and businessman Katiso Molefe, who is the alleged mastermind, are expected back in court on July 29," said police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe. The EFF, in a statement, welcomed the arrest, with the party stating: "We commend Gauteng's organised crime detectives and the Political Killings Task Team for their determined and methodical investigation, which has now resulted in the arrest of three suspected hitmen and the individual believed to have ordered the killing. A firearm recovered during the operation has been linked to multiple murders, highlighting the systemic nature of this violence and the importance of specialised units to combat it." The Alexandra Magistrate's Court has postponed the murder case against DJ Sumbody after four men who were arrested on Monday appeared in court on Tuesday. Image: X In 2022, the gruesome murder of the talented artist sent shockwaves across the country after he was shot dead while driving in Woodmead. According to Mathe, this discovery suggests that the individuals involved in DJ Sumbody's death may be part of a larger network responsible for orchestrating and carrying out violent crimes in and around Johannesburg. She added that Swart, an engineer from Vereeniging, was gunned down outside his workplace in what appears to have been a case of mistaken identity. He was shot 23 times by an alleged hitman who reportedly mistook him for another employee. "We can confirm that four suspects who were arrested on Monday on the murder of DJ Sumbody have appeared today. They have been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and the possession of illegal firearms, as well as ammunition. What is interesting is that the same suspects who were arrested were wanted for the murder of 30-year-old Armand Swart," she stated. While the police have not yet disclosed the full details regarding the motive, IOL has reported that those close to the investigation suggest that the killing may have stemmed from disputes involving business dealings or personal rivalries. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
