Sandton businessman Katiso Molefe has been denied bail in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court.
Katiso Molefe denied bail in DJ Sumbody murder case
The 44-year-old, who also goes by “TK,” is accused of being behind the 2022 killings of musician Oupa John Sefoka, better known as DJ Sumbody, and other victims linked to the same firearm.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Renier Boshoff ruled that releasing Molefe, even under the strictest conditions, considering his checkered past, would undermine the rule of law and, ultimately, albeit innocent until proven guilty, would certainly not be in the interest of justice.
“There are a number of very concerning aspects, not only linking [Molefe] to the crimes but also regarding his circle of influence and capabilities,” Boshoff said in his ruling.
Molefe was arrested in July 2025 and charged with multiple murders, including the November 2022 drive-by shooting that claimed the lives of DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza, in Woodmead, Johannesburg.
His three co-accused—Michael Pule Tau, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Musa Kekana—have not applied for bail. This means Molefe was the only one of the four suspects to attempt bail.
Why bail was denied
In simple terms, bail is money or conditions set by a court that allow an accused person to remain free while awaiting trial.
However, bail can be denied if the court believes the accused might run away, interfere with witnesses, or pose a danger to society.
The prosecutor argued strongly against bail, saying Molefe had travelled out of South Africa more than 115 times and could easily escape justice. The state called him “a dangerous criminal with no regard for human life” and added that the evidence against him was “overwhelming.”
Molefe’s defence argued that he had previously been granted bail in Pretoria and had followed all conditions. His lawyers also revealed that Molefe once sold his Mercedes-Benz to pay legal fees and admitted to a dagga-smuggling arrest in the UK two decades ago.
Murders linked to one weapon
Police investigators say they have connected several killings to the same firearm. Through ballistic testing—a scientific method that matches bullets to the guns that fired them—they confirmed that an AK-47 rifle was used in the murders of DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos (real name Hector Buthelezi), and two other men, Armand Swart and Don Tindleni.
“One AK-47 has been definitively connected to all four murder scenes,” National SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said
She added that more weapons were still being tested in connection with at least 10 other major cases.
The arrest of Katiso Molefe has also spilled into politics. Kenny Kunene, deputy president of the Patriotic Alliance and a former Johannesburg councillor, resigned shortly after being spotted outside Molefe’s home during a police raid.
While Kunene said he was working on a media project, his presence raised questions inside the party and led to his suspension.
Molefe and his co-accused face charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of illegal firearms. Police say more arrests are likely as their investigation continues.