Katiso Molefe murder trial to start in October
The pre-trial conference in the murder case against Katiso Molefe concluded in the High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The case was postponed to 26 October for trial after the defence attorneys confirmed that they had received full disclosure from the State.
Molefe appeared alongside his co-accused, Michael Pule Tau (55), Tiego Floyd Mabisela (45), and Musa Kekana.
They face 35 charges, including murder and conspiracy, linked to the killings of musicians Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka and DJ Vetties, Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, and businessman Don Tindleni.
Molefe’s bail was extended on the same conditions, while his co-accused remains in custody.
In October, the Madlanga Commission heard evidence of Molefe’s alleged involvement in the murder of Swart in April 2024.
Witness A, who serves in the Gauteng organised crime unit, was part of the task team probing Swart's murder.
He told the commission that the hit was not random, but a planned execution that may have stemmed from mistaken identity.
"Our analysis indicated that the same individuals suspected in the Sefoka murder were actively communicating in the days leading to Swart’s killing,” he told the commission.
During the proceedings, exhibits shown on-screen included call records tracing communication between Molefe and former detective-turned-alleged hitman Michael Pule Tau.
Witness A said investigators discovered that Molefe had phoned Tau just five days before Swart was killed.
"The call data we obtained showed that Mr Molefe contacted Mr Tau on 12 April. That contact raised suspicion, considering Tau’s previous involvement in organised violent crimes,” Witness A said.
According to the testimony, the investigators believe that Molefe, who was already under scrutiny for his alleged role in other contract-linked assassinations, may have ordered the hit, mistaking Swart for another whistleblower connected to a Transnet corruption probe.
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"The working theory at the time was that the intended target was another individual, who had provided sensitive information in the Transnet matter,” the witness explained.
“Swart was likely killed in error, but by the same network.”
The commission heard that police reviewed several hours of CCTV footage from security cameras near Swart’s workplace.
The footage reportedly captured two vehicles frequently circling the area in the week preceding the murder, one of which was later found to have been used in other violent crimes.
"The silver BMW and a white Ford Ranger seen near the crime scene were of particular interest,” Witness A told the evidence leaders.
“Both vehicles appeared in footage tied to at least two other shootings under investigation.”
The vehicles were later linked to the same suspects - Molefe, Tau, and alleged hitmen Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela - all of whom are also implicated in the 2022 murder of DJ Sumbody.
