The case was postponed to 18 September.
Controversial businessman Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe will remain behind bars after his bid for bail failed on Wednesday.
Molefe appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court to hear the outcome of his bail application.
The alleged mastermind was arrested alongside three hitmen in connection with the murder of South African artist Oupa John Sefoka, widely known as DJ Sumbody.
Sefoka and his bodyguards, Sibusiso Mokoena and Sandile Myeza, were gunned down in a hail of bullets in Woodmead, Gauteng, in November 2022.
Katiso Molefe denied bail
The court previously heard that Molefe is allegedly tied to the drug trade and implicated in shady tenders and corrupt deals.
He argued in his bail application that a murder charge alone should not rule him out for release.
But on Wednesday, Magistrate Renier Boshoff disagreed, backing the state’s claim that Molefe is dangerous and deeply connected to crime.
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“There are a number of very concerning aspects not only linking the application to the crimes, but also regarding his circle of influence and capabilities.
“His application for bail is accordingly refused,” Boshoff said.
The case was adjourned to 18 September, provisionally set as the date for serving the indictment on the defence.
“You will be kept in custody,” the magistrate added.
Watch the proceedings below, courtesy of SABC:
Katiso Molefe linked to more murders
At the time of his arrest for Sefoka’s killing, Molefe was out on R100 000 bail.
This is after the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria overturned a lower court’s decision to deny his release.
He had initially been arrested in connection with the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, who was shot 23 times outside his workplace on 17 April 2024.
READ MORE: DJ Sumbody’s murder exposes connection between crime and power
The businessman has also recently been charged in connection with the murders of Hector Buthelezi, known as DJ Vintos, and Don Tindleni.
Buthelezi and Tindleni were fatally shot in separate incidents in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Molefe and his three co-acussed – former police detective Michael Pule Tau, Musa Kekana, and Tiego Floyd Mabusela – are facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of illegal ammunition in all four cases.
NPA lodges complaint
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that efforts are underway to centralise all dockets linked to Molefe’s other murder charges.
“We are working on an application to centralise these matters so the prosecution team can focus on the case going forward,” she told the media outside court on Wednesday.
Mjonondwane stressed that the evidence against Molefe and the alleged hitmen is “overwhelming”.
“We have substantiated our allegations in court, including WhatsApp messages between the accused and Molefe, who appeared today and was denied bail.”
Evidence also shows that Molefe facilitated payments to his co-accused.
When asked if the NPA is ready should Molefe appeal to the high court again, Mjonondwane indicated that a complaint has been lodged with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Pretoria to review the initial bail decision.
“We will be alerted by the accused as to what step they want to take next, but should they approach the high court, we are ready as the NPA to oppose such an application because we believe that this court in its ruling there was no error that the court made in terms of the law.
“This judgment actually seeks to promote the rule of law and also to promote the work done by the criminal justice system in its entirety.”
She added that the matter is now in the hands of the Gauteng North DPP, who will evaluate the evidence and the judgment to determine the next steps.
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