Madlanga Commission | Firearm linked to DJ Sumbody, Armand Swart tied to multiple killings

A South African Police Service (SAPS) senior ballistics analyst, Captain Solomon Modisane, revealed on Tuesday that DJ Sumbody, DJ Vintos, and businessman Don Tindleni were all killed with the same AK47.

Modisane, a former PKTT member, testified virtually at the Madlanga Commission today, and explained that the firearm left unique microscopic marks on bullets and cartridge cases, allowing investigators to link the murders.

“So in paragraph nine which is my first findings is the cartridge cases mentioned in 4.1.1, 4.2.1, are the exhibit that I found in the Sandton case 398 of 11/2022 – a matter of DJ Sumbody. 5.1 8s the exhibits that I found in Orlando case 93 of 2/2023 where Mr. Don Tindleni was murdered and 6.1 were the exhibits that I retrieved in the case file under Orlando 220 of 3/2022 where DJ Vintos was murdered, and 7.1.1  and 7.2.1 are the test cartridge cases that I found inside a sealed bag in the case of Barmely 149 of 4/2024. So all these exhibits were all fired from the same firearm,” he said.

The same firearm was also connected to the murder of Armand Swart in April 2024.

Alleged underworld boss Katiso “KT” Molefe was recently released on R400 000 bail for the assassination of DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards in November 2022. He is also charged with the murders of DJ Vintos and businessman Don Tindleni.

Modisane further highlighted investigative lapses in the Swart case, noting that Captain Mokgotlwe, initially assigned to examine a 9mm pistol seized from Musa Kekana’s residence, failed to retrieve its serial number—a critical step in tracing the firearm’s history and ownership. Another officer later retrieved the serial number without issue.

Kekana, alongside Floyd Mabusela and former warrant officer Pule Tau, is charged in the April 2024 assassination of Swart, allegedly under Molefe’s orders.

The commission also heard that detectives claimed Mokgotlwe had previously suggested the firearm was linked to other serious crimes, a claim later confirmed by the Integrated Ballistics Identification System.

Meanwhile, Captain Meldon Mkhatshwa, expressed concern over the effectiveness of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Testifying before the Madlanga Commission, Mkhatshwa presented findings on firearms seized in various cases, including the April 2024 murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart. The PKTT was disbanded by suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu in December 2024.

Mkhatshwa explained that many of the original members did not return when the team was “reestablished”. Ballistics experts, crime intelligence personnel, and Local Criminal Records Center officials were not reinstated, leaving mainly detectives and combat officers.

Without these experienced professionals, Mkhatshwa says the team lacks the efficiency it once had.

There has also been tension among senior police officials over the disbandment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Last month, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola stated that the PKTT would continue its work despite a directive from the embattled Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the unit.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao