On 20 November 2022, South Africans woke to the shocking news that popular entertainer and entrepreneur Oupa John Sefoka, widely known as DJ Sumbody, had been gunned down in Johannesburg.
The star, celebrated for hits such as Ayepyep and Monate Mpolaye, was killed alongside his bodyguard in what police described as a targeted hit involving more than 40 bullets
DJ Sumbody’s journey was one of determination and ambition.
Raised in Pretoria, he worked as a taxi driver before turning to music, later carving a niche as both a performer and businessman. His flagship project, Ayepyep Lifestyle Lounge, became a symbol of prestige in South Africa’s nightlife scene
But beneath the glamour lay danger. Investigations and reports revealed how nightclubs like Ayepyep were entangled in extortion networks and turf wars linked to organised crime.
Alleged underworld figures, including members of Cape Town’s notorious gangs, were reported to have exerted pressure on operations.
In July 2025, nearly three years after his murder, police arrested four men in connection with the assassination.
Ballistics evidence tied an AK-47 used in the attack to multiple assassinations across Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Despite the arrests, allegations of police infiltration, intimidation, and political connections continue to cast a shadow over the investigation.
DJ Sumbody’s death remains emblematic of the dangerous intersection between entertainment and organised crime in South Africa. His story is a reminder of how success, power, and visibility in the country’s nightlife can carry deadly risks.
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