By Lehlohonolo Lehana
The trial of Katiso “KT” Molefe—alleged member of the ‘Big 5’ cartel and murder accused—and his co-accused has been postponed to 19 July 2027.
Molefe and co-accused briefly appeared in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday, 26 October 2026.
The postponement was primarily due to Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Musa Kekana being involved in a trial-within-a-trial in the Johannesburg High Court in the case against cartel member Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Matlala and four co-accused face 25 charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud and money laundering.
Molefe, who is out on R400,000 bail, is standing trial alongside Michael Pule Tau, 55, Mabusela, 45, and Kekana, who are all in custody.
The case centres on the November 20, 2022, killing of South African musician and businessman Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka and his two bodyguards in Woodmead, Johannesburg.
The state alleges that Molefe was involved in orchestrating the killings with the assistance of his co-accused. Prosecutors are expected to rely on evidence gathered during the investigation, including forensic findings that connect firearms used in different incidents.
The investigation has also drawn links to the murder of DJ Vintos, whose real name was Hector Buthelezi, and businessman Don Tindleni.
Judge Phanuel Mudau warned that the Molefe proceedings could drag on for years if they are not given continuous court time.
In a pointed reference to the Meyiwa murder trial, which has dragged on for four years now, eight years after Meyiwa’s murder, Mudau said the court would not allow the same pattern to repeat itself.
“I would want to commit all of you if it means two terms, three terms. Let it be, otherwise you are going around in circles. Let’s look at the Senzo Meyiwa’s case. I am citing that by way of example, we can’t have that happening. The trial must start. If it means the whole year, let it be. Line up your witnesses, that’s how it should be.”
Mudau asked all counsel involved in the case to align their diaries to ensure that, when the trial begins, there are no more delays.
Molefe’s legal representative asked to amend the condition requiring him to check in at a local police station three times a week, saying it was limiting for a man allowed to travel within the country.
However, the judge said the State, not Molefe, would dictate which police station he reports to. This is because police stations do not operate the same way.
The accused is not obliged to report only at the Morningside police station, but to advise the State five days in advance to which place in South Africa he is going to travel, and the State will indicate the police station at which, at that place, he must report.