DJ Sumbody murder trial finally begins – Four accused face 35 charges as State alleges Katiso Molefe orchestrated several high-profile murders

Businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe and three co-accused are expected to appear in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday as the long-awaited trial into the murder of musician and businessman Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka and his two bodyguards finally gets under way.

The trial centres on the killing of Sefoka and his bodyguards in Woodmead, Johannesburg, on 20 November 2022.

Molefe, who is out on R400,000 bail, is standing trial alongside Michael Pule Tau, 55, Tiego Floyd Mabisela, 45, and Musa Kekana.

The State alleges that the four men are linked to a wider criminal network and that Molefe orchestrated the killings with the assistance of his co-accused.

[do_widget id=super_rss_reader-3] –> –> The accused face 35 charges arising from the murder case and other alleged criminal activities.

The allegations remain before the court and have not yet been proved. The accused are presumed innocent unless convicted.

The case has been delayed by a lengthy pre-trial process, but the National Prosecuting Authority previously confirmed that the necessary proceedings had been completed and that the matter was ready for trial.

NPA spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole said the pre-trial conference had been finalised and that the case had been postponed to 26 October 2026 for the start of the trial.

“The pre-trial conference in the case against Katiso Molefe has concluded in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, and the matter has been postponed to 26 October 2026 for trial,” Mohlatlole said.

The defence confirmed during the pre-trial proceedings that it had received the evidence needed to prepare for the State’s case.

“The defence attorneys confirmed that they have received full disclosure from the State,” Mohlatlole said.

Full disclosure allows the defence teams to examine the evidence gathered by prosecutors, including witness statements, forensic reports, ballistic evidence and other material intended to support the charges.

Molefe’s bail was extended under the same conditions. His co-accused remain in custody pending the trial.

“The National Prosecuting Authority remains prepared to proceed with the trial and is committed to ensuring that justice is served,” Mohlatlole said.

State alleges Molefe directed the killings

According to the State’s case, Molefe was not merely connected to the incident but allegedly played a central role in planning and directing the killings.

Prosecutors allege that he orchestrated the murder of Sefoka and the two bodyguards with the assistance of Tau, Mabisela and Kekana.

The prosecution is expected to lead evidence aimed at explaining the alleged motive, the relationship between the accused and the victims, and the circumstances surrounding the attack in Woodmead.

The case attracted national attention because Sefoka was a well-known musician, businessman and nightlife entrepreneur. His death sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and raised fresh concerns about violence affecting prominent business figures.

The identities and roles of the two bodyguards will also form part of the evidence as the State seeks to establish how the three men were killed and who was responsible.

High-calibre rifles allegedly linked to other killings

The State’s case is expected to extend beyond the Woodmead murder.

According to the NPA, forensic evidence allegedly links high-calibre rifles used in the killing to several other high-profile murders.

The firearms are alleged to connect the case to the killing of DJ Vintos, whose real name was Hector Buthelezi, as well as the murders of Don Tindleni and engineer Armand Swart.

The prosecution believes the alleged links may point to a wider organised-crime network operating across several cases.

“The accused face 35 charges, with the State alleging that Molefe orchestrated the murder together with his co-accused,” the NPA said.

The ballistics evidence will be central to the trial. Prosecutors will have to explain how the firearms were recovered, how they were examined and what evidence connects them to the different crime scenes.

The defence will have an opportunity to challenge the reliability of the forensic evidence, the chain of custody of the firearms and any conclusions drawn by investigators.

Molefe granted bail after earlier refusal

In October 2025, the Johannesburg High Court granted Molefe bail of R400,000 after overturning an earlier decision by the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court to deny him release.

The High Court also upheld an earlier bail amount of R100,000 granted to Molefe in an unrelated matter.

Molefe had initially been arrested in connection with the murder of engineer Armand Swart. Investigators later allegedly linked him to other killings through forensic evidence.

His bail was extended during the pre-trial proceedings, allowing him to remain out of custody while the trial proceeds.

Tau, Mabisela and Kekana remain behind bars.

The different bail positions mean that the four accused will enter the trial under different circumstances, with Molefe appearing from outside custody while his co-accused remain detained.

Molefe has also been linked to the alleged “Big Five” cartel during proceedings before the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

The commission is investigating allegations of corruption, political interference and criminal infiltration within South Africa’s justice system.

Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, the SAPS divisional commissioner for crime intelligence, previously named Molefe and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala as alleged members of the cartel.

Khumalo told the commission that internal sabotage posed a serious threat to police operations and created opportunities for criminal syndicates to penetrate state institutions.

He described alleged criminal cartels as structures generally involving a central leader, a leadership core and smaller operational units or syndicates.

According to the evidence previously given, such groups may be involved in activities including drug trafficking, cross-border vehicle hijackings, tender fraud and extortion.

Khumalo said investigations into other alleged cartel leaders were continuing.

The commission’s evidence is separate from the criminal trial. Being named during testimony before an inquiry does not amount to a criminal conviction, and the allegations must still be tested through the appropriate legal processes.

The prosecution will have to prove each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

Among the issues likely to be contested are whether the accused planned or participated in the Woodmead killings, whether they possessed or used the alleged murder weapons, and whether the firearms can be reliably connected to the other cases referred to by the State.

The State will also have to establish the alleged roles of each accused person rather than relying only on claims about the group as a whole.

The defence teams may challenge the investigation, the admissibility of evidence, the reliability of witnesses and the interpretation of the forensic material.

The trial could therefore involve testimony from investigators, forensic experts, crime-intelligence officials and witnesses linked to the alleged organised-crime network.

A case watched by the entertainment and security industries

The proceedings are expected to attract significant public interest because of Sefoka’s profile and the seriousness of the allegations against the accused.

Sefoka, known professionally as DJ Sumbody, built a reputation in music and business. His death, along with the killing of his bodyguards, sparked widespread mourning and renewed debate about the security risks faced by musicians, entrepreneurs and public figures.

The case also forms part of a broader national conversation about organised crime, police corruption and the alleged use of criminal networks to influence state institutions.

For the families of Sefoka and the two bodyguards, the trial represents a long-awaited opportunity for the evidence to be placed before court and for the circumstances surrounding the deaths to be examined in detail.

For Molefe, Tau, Mabisela and Kekana, the proceedings will be the first full test of the State’s allegations.

The trial begins on Monday, 26 October 2026, with the four accused facing 35 charges and the prosecution preparing to present its case about the alleged Woodmead killings, the high-calibre rifles and the wider criminal links investigators say connect the matter to other high-profile murders.

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