Same AK-47 linked to murders of DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos, Don Tindleni, and Armand Swart

Captain Solomon Modisane, senior forensic analyst (ballistics) at the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Silverton, Pretoria, told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that cartridge cases from the Sandton and Orlando murder scenes matched those from the AK-47 rifle seized in the Bramley case related to the murder of engineer Armand Swart.

“All the exhibits were fired from the same firearm, an AK-47. That firearm murdered DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos and Don Tindleni,” Modisane said.

He told the Commission he received a request from the Political Killings Task Team on 30 December 2024 to compare ballistic evidence from the Bramley case with the Sandton and Orlando murder cases. The Sandton case involved the murder of DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards, while the Orlando cases related to DJ Vintos and Don Tindleni.

Modisane said that when he checked the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory system, he noticed the Bramley case appeared twice once in Silverton and once in KwaZulu-Natal.

“So I established that the same firearms initially examined in Silverton were the same firearms that were examined in KZN, according to the system,” he said.

He found it “bizarre” that the same case was examined in two provinces and later learned that investigating officers had requested a re-examination in Amanzimtoti by an independent analyst, citing irregularities in the initial Pretoria tests.

After comparing the cartridge cases and bullets, Modisane confirmed that all were fired from the same AK-47 rifle recovered from the Bramley suspects.

Following Modisane’s testimony, Captain Meldon Mkhatshwa, also a senior forensic analyst (ballistics) at the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria, told the Commission that the dissolution of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) had weakened the team’s ability to respond swiftly to firearm-related cases.

“The turnaround time of investigating the case they were having everything in the palm of their hands. When they arrest a person with a firearm, they send it to ballistics, we are going to produce a report within a day or two,” Mkhatshwa said. “Now they can’t process things very fast to be as effective as they used to be because part of the disciplines are no longer part of them.”

Mkhatshwa also confirmed that the report in the Swart murder investigation was sent to the investigating officer without review and that the corrected report was later backdated and signed afresh.

Modisane further explained how forensic analysts restore obliterated serial numbers using magnetic and acid etching processes.

“We prepare the surface and apply certain chemicals on that surface to let the serial number be visible. When the number comes up, we note it,” he said, adding that another qualified analyst must confirm the result.

He said factors such as lack of training, expired chemicals or failure to follow procedure could lead to unsuccessful restoration.