DJ Sumbody murder trial postponed for nine months

The trial of alleged underworld kingpin Katiso Molefe and three co-accused, facing 35 charges linked to a series of high-profile killings, has been postponed to 19 July 2027.

Molefe appeared in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday, where he stood alongside Michael Tau, Floyd Mabusela and Musa Kekana.

The accused face charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The case includes the November 2022 killing of popular musician and businessman Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka, who was gunned down alongside his bodyguards, Armand Swart and Hector “DJ Vintos” Buthelezi, in Woodmead, Johannesburg.

The State alleges that Molefe orchestrated the killing.

However, the case extends beyond the deaths of the musician and his bodyguards. Ballistic evidence has reportedly linked firearms used in the DJ Sumbody murder to other killings, including those of businessman Don Tindleni and engineer Armand Swart.

Swart was shot dead outside his workplace in April 2024 in what investigators believe may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Molefe, who was initially arrested in connection with Swart’s murder, was later linked by investigators to other killings through forensic evidence. He has also been linked to the alleged Big Five Cartel at the Madlanga Commission.

Molefe is out on R400,000 bail while the case against him and his co-accused continues.

The proceedings could face further complications over evidence that is also central to a separate case involving alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, Kekana, Mabusela and two other accused.