City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene insists he had just arrived at the Sandton home of the alleged mastermind of DJ Sumbody’s murder, Katiso “KT” Molefe.

Kunene has confirmed that he was at Molefe’s home when police arrived to arrest the Sandton-based businessman, Molefe, on Monday, but he stated that Molefe is not his friend or business associate.

The deputy president of Patriotic Alliance said he was briefly questioned by police on what he was doing at the scene, and he allegedly told them that he had accompanied a certain journalist from his online media company, to interview Molefe.

“I was there to take the journalist to go and interview him. You would have seen that my Africa News Global has not been active because, since I took office, I have not had the time to focus on it. I have lost some journalists who were working for me. Those who have asked for jobs, I have decided to give it to them, so that they can run it, and obviously, Africa News Global has always focused on exclusive news. That is one of those exclusives, where there was an opportunity to interview Mr Molefe by this young journalist,” Kunene spoke to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. 

Kunene described Molefe as an interesting character, who he believes should have been allowed to air his side of the story. 

“I am saying, there is that interest to talk to suspects, it’s not a new thing. It was just a question of, we were there at the time when the police were arriving. It was less than five minutes of us arriving. While we were on the driveway, we had not even gone into the house, when the police arrived.

“They were kicking the gate … we were outside with the person who facilitated the interview. Mr Molefe came out and said open the gate and they (police) came in. They found us there. Subsequently, they asked who the owner of the house was. There was a Casspir, (Mercedes-Benz) V-Class kombis, police covered with masks and others in private with no masks,” said Kunene.

He said when Molefe confirmed that he was the owner of the house, police cuffed him and told him that he was under arrest. 

“They sought our particulars, and then they saw me. They called me aside and asked what I was doing there. I told them my purpose, that a gentleman there had facilitated that we talk to this man on this matter. They asked if I had any personal relationship with him, no. They asked if I had his number, and I said no. I gave them my phone to punch his number and check if I had his number. I don’t have his number,” said Kunene.

He added that an address had been sent to him, for him to get to Molefe’s home. 

“We had not even started the interview,” said Kunene.

Kunene described the arrest of Molefe as accompanied by “the normal drama that the police would do when they arrest a person”.

Kunene added that Molefe was cuffed on his hands and feet and calmly escorted into one of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class vehicles.

“One of the police (officers) said eish bra Kenny, sorry man. I said there was no need to be sorry, you are doing your job, and they walked with him. The man was not fighting. He said open the gate, and he was outside there. They handcuffed him in front of us, then they left with him. They left everybody at the house. And I followed them,” he said.

Kunene said it was not the first time he had met Molefe, but they do not have an association, except for having a mutual friend who facilitated the interview.

On Tuesday, IOL reported that the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg has called for Kunene to resign, following the widespread reports that he was found at the home of the murder-accused Molefe. 

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 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 out of hand.

“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.”

She said trust in politics comes from keeping promises, and upholding the rule of law. 

“The Patriotic Alliance never keeps their promises, and does not uphold the rule of law. Historically, the DA called for Gwamanda to step down amid his criminal investigations, and Kunene must do the same. The office of the executive mayor must be beyond reproach,” said Kayser-Echeozonjoku.

“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.

On Monday, IOL reported that in a significant development, the Gauteng businessman, Molefe, was arrested in connection with the grim murder of the renowned artist and musician Oupa John Sefoka, famously known as DJ Sumbody.

DJ Sumbody, a beloved figure in the South African music scene, was tragically killed in a hail of bullets in November 2022 in Woodmead.

The shooting also resulted in the death of another person, and a third person was left injured.

While the police have remained tight-lipped regarding the specific details surrounding the motives and circumstances of the murder, the arrest marks a crucial step in what has been a protracted investigation into the case.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

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