DJ Sumbody murder trial postponed to July 2027 as judge demands continuous proceedings

The Johannesburg High Court has warned that the murder trial of musician and businessman, Oupa Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody, cannot be allowed to drag on for years because of scheduling conflicts between legal teams.

Judge Thifhelimbilu Mudau postponed the trial involving businessman, Katiso “KT” Molefe and his three co-accused, to 19 July 2027, directing the legal teams to prepare for continuous proceedings to ensure the matter reaches finality.

The four accused – Molefe, Michael Pule Tau, Tiego Floyd Mabisela and Musa Kekana – appeared in court on Monday, facing 35 charges linked to DJ Sumbody’s murder in 2022.

The postponement follows an ongoing attempted murder trial involving two of the accused, who are also facing charges in that separate matter. The court heard that overlapping legal teams have made it difficult for the two trials to proceed simultaneously.

State prosecutor, Elize Le Roux, told the court that the related trial was progressing slowly and could continue through the first two court terms of 2027, delaying the start of the DJ Sumbody murder trial.

Judge Mudau expressed concern that, without firm scheduling arrangements, the trial could continue in fragments for years, undermining the accused’s right to a speedy trial.

The judge directed the legal teams to prepare for continuous proceedings from July 2027, potentially spanning several court terms. He stressed that the need to ensure the court operates efficiently and brings the matter to finality must take priority over competing legal diaries.

In a separate development, the court agreed in principle to amend Molefe’s bail conditions to accommodate his business travel within South Africa.

Molefe, who was previously granted bail of R400,000, will still be required to report to a police station three times a week. However, he will be allowed to report at a different station while travelling, provided he gives the State five working days’ notice of his intended destination. The State will determine which police station he must report.

The revised conditions are to be formally recorded in a court order. Molefe’s bail has been extended, while Tau, Mabisela and Kekana remain in custody.

The State alleges that Molefe orchestrated DJ Sumbody’s murder with the assistance of his co-accused.

Prosecutors have also alleged that forensic evidence links high-calibre rifles used in the killing to other high-profile murders, including those of DJ Vintos, Don Tindleni and Vereeniging engineer, Armand Swart.

The allegations remain before the court, and all four accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe