In the shadowy world of JOHANNESBURG's underground dealings, a chilling tale unfolds through hidden WhatsApp conversations and secretive bank statements, exposing how alleged drug cartel leader Katiso Molefe orchestrated the deadly ambush that claimed the life of popular music figure Oupa John Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody. These digital trails paint a picture of careful planning, where Molefe, a businessman with deep ties to illicit trades, allegedly funded a hit that saw DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards riddled with 48 bullets from an AK-47 rifle. The attack happened on a quiet corner in Woodmead, turning a routine night into a scene of calculated elimination, all linked back to disputes over missing drug shipments and rivalries in the entertainment scene. As investigators pieced together the puzzle, they uncovered how Molefe's payments flowed through cash deposits, rewarding those who carried out the grim task, while ballistics evidence tied the weapon to a string of similar tragedies.
The story begins with the fateful events of 20 November 2022, when DJ Sumbody, fresh from a performance at a local venue, drove through the upscale Woodmead area in JOHANNESBURG. Unknown assailants, armed with precision and heavy firepower, opened fire on his vehicle at the intersection of Woodmead and Woodland drives. The barrage of 48 shots left no survivors—DJ Sumbody, along with his bodyguards Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza, perished in what authorities described as a meticulously planned contract killing. The motive, according to investigative findings, stemmed from the murky realm of drug trafficking, where a massive consignment had vanished from police custody in KwaZulu-Natal years earlier, only to resurface in JOHANNESBURG's club circuits. This lost shipment, valued at millions, ignited a feud among powerful players, drawing DJ Sumbody into the crossfire when he became entangled in efforts to handle or distribute the goods.
Katiso Molefe, a 61-year-old entrepreneur from Sandton, emerges as the central figure in this narrative, accused of masterminding not just this incident but a series of targeted eliminations. Court documents reveal how Molefe, who operates businesses in financial insurance, real estate, vehicles, logistics, and construction, allegedly used his resources to hire operatives for these acts. His involvement came to light through a web of cellphone records and financial transactions that investigators meticulously analyzed. Just one day after the shooting, WhatsApp exchanges between the alleged gunmen showed them anxiously awaiting payment from a contact referred to as "K" or "Phafa," nicknames that authorities connected directly to Molefe through data extracted from his own phone. These messages highlighted frustration over unanswered calls and delays, with one participant noting that "Phafa" had gone quiet, underscoring the tension in the aftermath of the deed.
Bank statements provided further damning links, showing unusual cash deposits into the accounts of the accused shortly after the event. On 24 November 2022, one of the suspects deposited R100,000 in cash, while others followed with sums like R10,000 and R56,000 over the next few days. Cellphone tower data placed these individuals near Molefe's residence around the same time, suggesting in-person meetings to settle the accounts. This pattern of communication and money movement repeated in other cases tied to Molefe, painting him as the financier who ensured loyalty through prompt rewards. His role extended beyond mere funding; investigators believe he possessed intimate knowledge of the victims' routines, allowing for the precise timing that characterized these operations.
The connections deepened with the murder of Hector Buthelezi, who performed under the stage name DJ Vintos, a close associate of DJ Sumbody. On 15 March 2022, at around 01:30, Buthelezi was gunned down outside the ShoptoShop pub in Orlando, Soweto. Assailants in a BMW X3 fled the scene after the shooting, but WhatsApp chats from hours later revealed discussions of satisfaction from "Phafa," with promises of meetings after the job. Similar cash infusions into suspects' accounts followed, mirroring the financial footprints from DJ Sumbody's case. Ballistics tests confirmed that the AK-47 recovered from one suspect's home matched casings from both scenes, linking the weapon to these and at least eight other high-profile incidents, including attempted murders and additional killings.
Molefe's web of influence spread further, encompassing the mistaken-identity slaying of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart on 17 April 2024. Swart, a father of two, was shot 23 times outside his factory workplace, intended as a hit on a whistleblower involved in exposing inflated Transnet tender prices. Molefe faced arrest for this in December 2024, with evidence showing his text messages assuring bail for co-accused even before hearings, raising questions about his reach into judicial processes. Another thread involved the death of Don Tindleni, shot in his BMW 5 Series on the N1 near the M17 off-ramp in March 2023, with firearms matching those from the other cases. Police seized four weapons during arrests—an AK-47 and three pistols—positively tying them to ten serious crimes, four of which directly involved these entertainment and business figures.
Behind Molefe's polished exterior lies a history marked by legal troubles. In 2004, a UK court convicted him of possessing cannabis under the alias David Tebogo Lebitsa, resulting in a 20-year ban from entering the country that ended in 2024. This past conviction, revealed during bail proceedings, added layers to his profile as someone accustomed to operating in gray areas. Molefe, who claims a monthly income of R200,000 from legitimate ventures, owns properties including a R3 million home in Winchester Hills shared with his estranged wife and a R17 million residence in Sandhurst where he lives with three sons. He drives luxury vehicles like a Mercedes SL600 worth R400,000 and a 2023 Range Rover valued at R1.2 million, though he recently sold a V-Class Mercedes to cover legal fees and bail costs. With nine children in total, including one daughter in Abu Dhabi with whom he shares a distant bond, Molefe argues strong family and community ties in Gauteng and the Free State make him unlikely to flee.
Molefe pointed to his prior release on R100,000 bail by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 27 June 2025, in the Swart case, overturned from a lower court's denial by Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba. He emphasized compliance with conditions, surrendering his passport expiring on 7 July 2032, and limited international travel to Hong Kong, China, and Swaziland in recent years. Molefe, a former teacher – just like his secret friend and equally controversial Patriotic Alliance deputy President, Kenny Kunene, who is also a former teacher – insisted he poses no flight risk, with no prior South African convictions and a commitment to face trial, pleading not guilty due to what he calls a weak case.
The state countered by presenting evidence of Molefe's alleged efforts to dispose of a cellphone and SIM card in October last year, following court mentions of his communications with Tau, suggesting attempts to erase traces. Prosecutors highlighted unidentified cash deposits in his bank statements, implying sources beyond his declared businesses, and noted that the investigating officer, under 24-hour protection, along with the team, required bodyguards due to potential threats. They portrayed Molefe as deeply embedded in drug trades, with the killings of DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos arising from conflicts in that arena. The bail hearing postponed to 14 August allowed further affidavits, while Molefe complained of poor consulting facilities at Kgosi Mampuru prison, describing dim lighting in the old Pretoria Central section.
This saga ties into broader underworld dynamics, including the elusive Big Five syndicate furious over the KwaZulu-Natal drug shipment's disappearance and resale in JOHANNESBURG at cut rates. DJ Sumbody's involvement reportedly began when approached for help in moving the goods, escalating into a deadly rivalry that claimed lives like those of rapper Sandile DJ Citi Lyts Mkhize and artist Thulani Heavy Pablo Msimango, all linked to similar disputes. His business ambitions, such as expanding Ayepyep to Menlyn, led him to seek funding from figures like one late taxi boss, as well as Joe Sibanyoni, who is also a taxi boss and is known as Joe Ferrari, who hosted events drawing in associates like Seunkie DJ Vettys Mukubung. DJ Vettys, owner of Hawayu Lifestyle pub in Tshwane and collaborator on tracks like Ngwana Daddy, survived a January 2024 shooting, hit by two bullets and hospitalized for three weeks. He recounted a spiritual encounter with DJ Sumbody's image, dressed in black and blue, seemingly protecting him and urging forgiveness for the attackers, believed to target Sumbody's circle.
Molefe's charges encompass four counts of conspiracy to commit murder, four murder counts, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, with the Swart case still pending. His co-accused face similar accusations, and while Molefe distances himself, the digital and financial evidence forms a tight net. The firearms' links to multiple cases underscore a pattern of organized hits, with police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirming the connections. Molefe's insistence on bail, citing family responsibilities and no intent to live as a fugitive, clashes with the state's view of him as a threat with far-reaching influence, possibly even into judicial circles, as seen in criticisms of Judge Ledwaba's decisions amid past controversies over sealed CR17 documents and accusations during his 2021 Judicial Service Commission interview.
The narrative extends to Molefe's arrest on 21 July 2025 at his home, where he cooperated, further arguing against flight risk claims. Yet, the state's affidavit stresses his danger, with witnesses potentially at risk if released. This case reveals the intricate intersections of music, business, and hidden trades in South Africa, where ambitions collide with ruthless enforcements, leaving families shattered and communities wary. As details emerge, they highlight how one man's alleged empire built on shadows could unravel through the persistence of digital footprints and forensic science.
Who do you think are the members of the Big Five?
Follow Us on Twitter
