AK-47 That Gunned Down DJ Sumbody Linked to DJ Vintos Murder and Three More Killings
South African police have made a significant breakthrough in their investigation into the assassination of popular amapiano star Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka.
The AK-47 rifle used to gun him down in Woodmead, Johannesburg, in 2022 has now been linked to three other murders — including that of Soweto-based DJ Hector “DJ Vintos” Buthelezi.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe confirmed that ballistic and forensic evidence has connected the same firearm to the killings of DJ Vintos, engineer Armand Swart, and Don Tindleni.
Also Read: Revealed: Here is Why DJ Sumbody was Assassinated
Four Suspects Charged, Including Alleged Mastermind
Four suspects have been arrested in Gauteng in connection with the killings, among them controversial businessman Katiso Molefe, who is believed to be the alleged mastermind behind the executions. Molefe and three other suspected hitmen now face multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.
DJ Sumbody’s Killers Linked to DJ Vintos Murder(Image Credit: News24)The case has been postponed to 18 September for the centralisation of all the linked cases.
DJ Vintos Shot Outside Soweto Club
DJ Vintos was gunned down in March 2022 outside a nightclub in Orlando East, Soweto. Police have now charged Molefe and his co-accused with his murder. Authorities believe his death was part of the same violent web of targeted killings tied to the criminal underworld.
Engineer Killed in Case of Mistaken Identity
Among the victims was also engineer Armand Swart, who was shot dead outside his workplace in Vereeniging on 17 April 2024. Swart, an employee at Q Tech Engineering, was reportedly not the intended target and is believed to have been killed in a case of mistaken identity. He was ambushed by two gunmen in a white Hyundai i20, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
DJ Sumbody’s Alleged Role in Drug Feud
According to media reports, DJ Sumbody became entangled in a violent feud over a multi-million-rand drug consignment that vanished from police custody in KwaZulu-Natal before reappearing in Johannesburg. He was allegedly asked to arrange a meeting between certain parties and a Cape Town businessman — unaware that the gathering was connected to the missing drugs.
It is alleged that the businessman later alerted the original owners, a feared criminal group known as ‘The Big Five’, who ordered Sefoka’s execution because he “knew too much.”
Crackdown Comes Amid Police Interference Allegations
The arrests come as South African police intensify their crackdown on organised crime.
This follows recent bombshell allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused politicians and senior law enforcement officials of obstructing investigations into syndicates.