Alleged crime kingpin Katiso “KT” Molefe granted R400,000 bail after appeal

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 his release.

Judge Brad Wanless handed down the ruling of his bail appeal on Friday.

“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,” he 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 must report to the Morningside Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 06:00 and 18:00. 

He is restricted to the borders of Gauteng province but may travel to Welkom, Free State, for business purposes after informing the investigating officer.

The court further ordered that Molefe’s passport remain in the possession of the investigating officer and that he not apply for new travel documents until the trial is finalised.

“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,” Wanless added.

Molefe, 61, appeared before the High Court last week after appealing the August 20, 2025, ruling by Magistrate Renier Boshoff, who found that he had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances warranting his release on bail.

Molefe’s legal counsel, Advocate Michael Hellens SC, previously argued that the magistrate had erred in both fact and law, claiming the state’s case was based 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.”

Hellens insisted Molefe was not a flight risk and had not interfered with witnesses since his arrest.

The state countered that, viewed holistically, the evidence presented a compelling picture of Molefe’s alleged involvement.

“The state doesn’t need each piece of evidence to stand alone,” the prosecutor argued. 

“Taken together, the circumstantial evidence clearly points to the appellant’s involvement and guilt.”

Prosecutors added that inconsistencies identified 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 operates through a central leadership core and several operational units, each comprising at least 10 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, 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@i.co.za

IOL