Controversial businessman and murder-accused Katiso “KT” Molefe is set to appear before the High Court in Johannesburg as he appeals a decision denying him bail.
The State is opposing the application, and arguments will be heard before Judge Brad Wanless.
On August 20, 2025, the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court denied Molefe’s initial bail application. Magistrate Renier Boshoff ruled that Molefe had failed to present exceptional circumstances justifying his release.
“Considering all the relevant facts and circumstances before the court, the court makes a value judgment and finds that the applicant failed to put forward exceptional circumstances justifying his release on bail,” Boshoff said.
“His application is accordingly refused.”
Molefe, 61, is accused of masterminding the 2022 murders of music producer and nightclub owner Oupa John Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody, and his two bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza.
He is charged alongside three alleged hitmen, Michael Pule Tau, Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela.
Magistrate Boshoff noted that Molefe also faces a pending case relating to the April 2024 murder of Armand Swart, allegedly a case of mistaken identity.
Boshoff said that Molefe and his co-accused are implicated in multiple related criminal matters.
Molefe was arrested in July by the SAPS Political Killings Task Team in Gauteng. He faces several charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
At the time of his arrest, he was already out on bail in a separate assassination case.
His co-accused, Tau, Kekana and Mabusela, have not applied for bail.
Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, SAPS Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence, last week identified Molefe and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala as ringleaders of the so-called "Big Five" cartel.
He was testifying before the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which is probing alleged corruption, political interference, and criminal infiltration within South Africa’s justice system.
Khumalo, who heads the Political Killings Task Team, stated that the primary threat to police operations stems from internal sabotage, enabling criminal syndicates to penetrate state institutions.
He detailed the structure of criminal cartels, noting that each is typically led by a central figure supported by a leadership core and smaller operational units or syndicates - comprising at least 10 members.
These syndicates are allegedly involved in drug trafficking, cross-border vehicle hijackings, tender fraud and extortion.
While only Molefe and Matlala have been named, Khumalo said investigations into the other three alleged cartel leaders are ongoing.
Meanwhile, IOL News previously reported that SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said that an AK-47 and two pistols seized during the investigation have been forensically linked to 18 cases involving murder, attempted murder and other serious crimes.
These include:
-The attempted murder of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni, shot outside Centurion Golf Estate on 10 August 2022
-The murders of DJ Sumbody, Mokoena and Myeza in Woodmead (November 2022)
-The murder of Don Tindleni on the N1 near the N17 offramp (March 2023)
-The mistaken identity killing of Armand Swart (April 2024)
-The attempted murder of DJ Vetties
“These three firearms, one AK-47 and two pistols, are now linked to 18 cases,” said Mathe. “Previously, we were looking at 10. That number has since increased.”
Mathe also noted that the AK-47 allegedly used in the attempted murder of actress and businesswoman Tebogo Thobejane has not yet been recovered.
“We are still looking for that particular weapon,” she said.
Police have not ruled out further links between these firearms and other crimes connected to Molefe and Matlala.
*This article was first published by IOL News
