More nights behind bars for Katiso 'KT' Molefe as High Court reserves his bail appeal
Controversial murder-accused businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe will remain spend more nights behind bars, after the High Court reserved judgment in his appeal against the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court’s decision to deny him bail.
Arguments were heard at the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday afternoon.
Judge Brad Wanless said the court would deliver judgment “as soon as possible” given the urgency of bail matters.
“The court is not in a position yet to hand down judgment,” Wanless said. “It will endeavour to do so at the earliest opportunity.”
The matter has been postponed and parties will be advised when judgment is ready.
Molefe, 61, is seeking to overturn an August 20, 2025 ruling by Magistrate Renier Boshoff, who found that he had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances warranting his release.
Advocate Michael Hellens SC, representing Molefe, argued that the magistrate had erred in both fact and law, claiming the State’s case is built on speculation and weak circumstantial evidence.
“There was no evidence that he was a member of a syndicate – it’s just not there,” said Hellens.
“He did nothing to bring the bail system into disrepute, didn’t run away, and didn’t interfere with anyone.”
Hellens insisted Molefe was not a flight risk and had not interfered with witnesses since his arrest.
However, the State pushed back, asserting that the evidence – when viewed holistically – paints a compelling picture of Molefe’s alleged involvement.
“The State doesn’t need each piece of evidence to stand alone,” the prosecutor said.
“Taken together, the circumstantial evidence clearly points to the appellant’s involvement and guilt.”
The State added that inconsistencies highlighted 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 is accused of masterminding the 2022 murders of popular music producer and nightclub owner Oupa John Sefoka, widely known as DJ Sumbody, and his bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza.
He faces multiple charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
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.
Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, SAPS Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence, last week named Molefe and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala as leaders of the so-called “Big Five” cartel, during his testimony before the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry into corruption and criminal infiltration in the justice system.
According to Khumalo, the “Big Five” cartel structure includes a central figure, a leadership core, and operational units – often comprising at least 10 members – involved in crimes such as drug trafficking, cross-border vehicle hijackings, tender fraud and extortion.
Investigations into three additional alleged cartel bosses are ongoing.
Police have also linked three firearms seized during the investigation, an AK-47 and two pistols, to 18 serious criminal cases, including the murders of DJ Sumbody, Mokoena and Myeza in November 2022, and the attempted murder of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni.
“These three firearms are now linked to 18 cases,” SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe previously said.
“Previously, we were looking at 10. That number has since increased.”
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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