Political links to suspected criminals have been raised yet again as Patriotic Alliance deputy president and City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene was found by police at the Sandton home of a businessman they were arresting for murder.

Kunene was at the home of Katiso “KT” Molefe on Monday when police came to arrest the businessman in connection with the 2022 murder of DJ Sumbody.

The late DJ, born Oupa Sefoka, was murdered in November 2022 in Woodmead. The shooting also resulted in the death of another person, and a third person was left injured.

Kunene yesterday confirmed that he was at Molefe’s house when police arrived but claimed that he had accompanied a journalist from his media company.

Kunene could not be reached on his phone yesterday however he told eNCA that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Kunene said he was introducing his young journalist to Molefe to allow the Sandton businessman to respond to the murder allegations he was facing.

“It was basically to give the man the opportunity to speak about where he stands, in all these things, because the court case is still far. And there is nothing wrong with interviewing suspects … 405 (Newzroom Afrika) was at Kgosi Mampuru (prison), they went there to interview Cat Matlala. They asked him one question because they were not allowed to interview him, but they would have taken that opportunity,” said Kunene.

“These are young journalists; this would have been a great exclusive for them. It was a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

However, DA Johannesburg caucus leader, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the revelations were damning for Kunene.

“Criminality and underworld links seem to be entrenched in the Patriotic Alliance (PA) as their Johannesburg leader was found at the home of a suspected murderer during his arrest,” she said.

“Kunene’s role as MMC for Transport is absolutely untenable, after he was found by police at the home of a murder suspect, as police arrived to arrest the suspect. The DA calls for Kunene’s immediate resignation, and if he will not resign Mayor Dada Morero must fire him.”

She said the explanation given by Kunene, in explaining what he was doing at the house is “laughable” and must be rejected

“No, Kenny, you were not at a murder suspect’s house to ‘drive a journalist there’. The Patriotic Alliance shows itself more and more every day to not have the best interests of South Africa at heart. It is a selfish, underworld organisation that associates with crime and corruption,” said Kayser-Echeozonjoku.

“The people of South Africa do not deserve their local governments led by people who are at home with murder suspects. The people of Johannesburg do not deserve the underworld connections that Kenny Kunene brings to the mayoral committee, in their city.”

“It is a slippery slope – once a figure like Kunene associates with murder suspects, there is no law he will be afraid to break. 

“Kenny Kunene must resign, or be fired immediately,” she insisted.

Meanwhile former head of the Hawks, General Godfrey Lebeya, has clarified how members of the Hawks came to be at Molefe’s house in December last year amid the businessman’s arrest for another murder.

In December last year, a stand-off between the police and the Hawks nearly occurred when both parties arrived at the scene where the police were there to arrest a murder suspect. 

The police were there to apprehend Molefe in connection with the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart. 

Lebeya told a TV news channel yesterday that he received a call from an informant indicating that individuals purporting to be members of the Hawks were at a house in Johannesburg and were about to effect an arrest of a suspected criminal. 

Lebeya expressed concern over the situation, noting that there have been instances in the past where individuals have impersonated Hawks members or other police officers. This action motivated him to act after confirming  with other senior Hawks officials that there was no Hawks’ operation at that particular  place.  

He said that he was not connected to Molefe.

Regarding DJ Sumbody’s murder, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the four men – Michael Pule, Floyd Mabusela, Mosa Kekana, and businessman Katiso Molefe appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

“They have been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and the possession of illegal firearms, as well as ammunition. What is interesting is that the same suspects who were arrested were wanted for the murder of 30-year-old Armand Swart,” she stated.

The case returns to court on July 29.

THE MERCURY

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