The Johannesburg High Court has granted alleged crime kingpin Katiso “KT” Molefe bail of R400,000, overturning an earlier decision by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court that denied him release.
Judge Brad Wanless handed down the ruling on Friday, substituting the regional court’s decision with the new bail order.
“The order granted in the regional court of Gauteng, held at Alexandra, whereby the appellant’s application for bail was dismissed, is set aside and is substituted with this order,” Judge Wanless said. “The appellant is granted bail in the amount of R400,000. This amount is in addition to the bail granted by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, in the sum of R100,000.”
Under the bail conditions, Molefe, 61, must report to Morningside Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 06:00 and 18:00. He is restricted to Gauteng province but may travel to Welkom, Free State, for business purposes after informing the investigating officer. His passport remains with the investigating officer, and he may not apply for new travel documents until the trial concludes.
“The appellant shall not interfere or communicate with any state witnesses referred to in the indictment, either directly, indirectly, or through third parties,” Judge Wanless said. “The appellant is to attend court as ordered on the last appearance and on any subsequent dates to which the trial is postponed.”
Molefe appeared before the High Court last week after appealing the August 20 ruling by Magistrate Renier Boshoff, who had found he failed to show exceptional circumstances justifying bail.
Molefe’s legal counsel, Advocate Michael Hellens SC, argued the magistrate erred in fact and law, claiming the state’s case relied on speculation and weak circumstantial evidence.
“There was no evidence that he was a member of a syndicate — it’s just not there,” Hellens said. “He did nothing to bring the bail system into disrepute, didn’t run away, and didn’t interfere with anyone.” He added that Molefe was not a flight risk and had not tampered with witnesses since his arrest.
The state countered that, viewed holistically, the evidence painted a compelling picture of Molefe’s alleged involvement.
“The state doesn’t need each piece of evidence to stand alone,” prosecutors said. “Taken together, the circumstantial evidence clearly points to the appellant’s involvement and guilt.” They further stated that inconsistencies raised by the defence did not weaken the overall case.
Molefe was arrested in July 2025 by the SAPS Political Killings Task Team in Gauteng. He faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in connection with the 2022 killings of popular music producer and nightclub owner Oupa John Sefoka, known as DJ Sumbody, and his bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza. At the time of his arrest, he was already out on bail in a separate assassination case.
His co-accused, Michael Pule Tau, Musa Kekana, and Tiego Floyd Mabusela, have not applied for bail.
During his testimony before the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry into corruption and criminal infiltration in the justice system, SAPS Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, named Molefe and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala as leaders of the so-called “Big Five” cartel. According to Khumalo, the cartel operates through a central leadership core and several operational units, each with at least ten members, involved in crimes including drug trafficking, cross-border vehicle hijackings, tender fraud, and extortion. Investigations into three additional alleged cartel bosses are ongoing.
Police have linked three firearms seized during the investigation — an AK-47 rifle and two pistols — to 18 serious criminal cases, including the murders of DJ Sumbody, Mokoena, and Myeza in November 2022, as well as the attempted murder of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni.
“These three firearms are now linked to 18 cases,” SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said. “Previously, we were looking at 10. That number has since increased.”
The High Court’s bail ruling allows Molefe to temporarily regain his freedom, but stringent conditions aim to prevent interference with witnesses or any attempts to flee justice.
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