An AK-47 assault rifle and two other firearms seized in relation to controversial businessmen Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Katiso “KT” Molefe have been positively linked to 18 murder and attempted murder cases, as well as other serious crimes.

SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe made the revelation outside the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, following the court’s decision to deny bail to Matlala.

The 49-year-old Matlala is accused of orchestrating a 2023 hit on his ex-girlfriend, actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane. 

He faces charges of attempted murder, money laundering, and other serious offences alongside his wife, Tsakane, and three co-accused.

The State opposed bail, arguing Matlala poses a flight risk, citing his alleged ownership of a private jet, foreign assets in Mauritius, and possession of a fraudulent Eswatini identity document. 

Prosecutors said the Eswatini ID, which bears a different surname, was sent to him by his wife, Tsakane, and cellphone records show he travelled to the country at least three times.

Speaking to the media outside the court, Mathe confirmed that one AK-47 and two pistols in police custody have been linked to 18 cases, including the murders of DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos, Don Tindleni, and Armand Swart, as well as the attempted murder of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni.

“In terms of the firearms, you will recall that we’ve got three firearms in police custody: one AK-47 and two pistols,” said Mathe.

She confirmed that the AK-47 has been linked to:

-The attempted murder of Joe Sibanyoni, shot outside Centurion Golf Estate on 10 August 2022

-The murders of DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards in Woodmead (November 2022)

-The murder of Don Tindleni on the N1 near the N17 offramp (March 2023)

-The murder of Armand Swart, a case of mistaken identity (April 2024)

One of the seized pistols has also been linked to the attempted murder of DJ Vetties.

Mathe said that the firearms were also potentially linked to the cases involving Molefe and Matlala.

“I have previously indicated we were linking those three firearms with 10 cases. The number has now risen to 18. These include murder, attempted murder, and other serious crimes,” she said.

Mathe added that the AK-47 allegedly used in the attempted murder of Tebogo Thobejane has not yet been recovered.

“So we are now sitting at 18 cases where we are linking these three firearms in our possession. You will recall that the Tebogo Thobejane AK-47 has not been found. We are still looking for that particular weapon,” she said.

Last month, IOL News reported that the same AK-47 was used to kill DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos, Armand Swart, and Don Tindleni. All of whom died in separate incidents but under similar circumstances, gunned down in hailstorms of bullets.

Three alleged hitmen – Musa Kekana, Michael Pule Tau, and Floyd Mabusela – appeared in court on charges relating to the murder of Don Tindleni, and have since been charged with the murders of DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos.

DJ Vintos, whose real name was Hector Buthelezi, was shot and killed outside a nightclub in Orlando East in March 2022, allegedly by suspects in a BMW X3.

DJ Sumbody and his bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza, were killed in November 2022, also in a hail of bullets in Woodmead.

Tindleni, driving a BMW 5 Series, was shot and killed on the N1 near the N17 off-ramp in March 2023. That case remained unsolved until recent breakthroughs.

Armand Swart was killed in April 2024 in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity, but ballistics linked the same weapons to his murder.

“Our investigation has brought us to this point,” said Mathe. “We now have ballistic reports and other overwhelming evidence linking the same AK-47 and pistols to multiple killings.”

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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