‘Mayor wa Pitori’ remembered after death in hail of bullets
“He believed every word that came out of his mouth and he backed it up with actions, to turn it into reality. He was a big dreamer.”
Colleagues and close friends paid tribute to the slain popular Pretoria DJ and businessman who was gunned down in a hail of bullets on the weekend.
The memorial for the late Oupa John Sefoka (38), popularly known as DJ Sumbody, was held at Lewende Woord in Centurion on Wednesday.
Sefoka was an Amapiano artist and successful co-owner of the restaurant and entertainment bar Ayepyep.
DJ Sumbody earned his very first entertainment gig at a community radio station in Tshwane, where he was appointed as the producer and presenter of a show called “Mashaedi on the Engage”.
This was after volunteering for 12 months as a featured presenter on the Friday breakfast show with DJ Syco and Lee.
“We are saddened by the loss of a good friend of the company and icon to the music industry,” said Sony Music Africa head of legal and business affairs Katlego Malatji.
“Not only have we lost a trusted joint venture partner, but a reliable source of great insights into the industry that knew no boundaries.”
Malatji said he met Sefoka 10 years ago when he was a student and he pitched an idea to bond residents and cultures of various regions of Pretoria through entertainment.
“We were doubtful of the idea and it was unbelievable how somebody we had never met, introducing himself as Sumbody, became important to our plans.”
He described Oupa as a dream chaser who always believed in the impossible.
“He believed every word that came out of his mouth and he backed it up with actions to turn it into reality. He was a big dreamer,” Malatji said.
Business partner Kagiso Setsetse said it was very difficult to describe Sefoka; however, “he was my everything”.
“We have lost a soldier, a brother and a community leader.”
Musician and businessman Refiloe Phoolo, professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, said Oupa was never frightened of being honest.
“He was an old soul, very grounded and deep-rooted. It was like I was always with a father figure and a friend in one person.
“Sefoka was one person you could call when needing help, be brutally honest with and he would not take offence to most conversations.”
The renowned DJ, music artist, radio personality and entrepreneur was killed in the early hours of Sunday in Johannesburg.
Sefoka was reportedly on his way from a gig in Woodmead when he and his security detail were ambushed near Engen Woodlands in Sandton.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said the police were investigating.
“Police received a complaint about the shooting at approximately 00:30.”
“Upon arrival at the scene, they found two people inside a VW Golf with gunshot wounds. Both victims, a driver and a passenger, were certified dead on the scene.”
Masondo said the motive for the shooting was still unknown at this stage.
Sefoka was born and bred in Pretoria and began his education at Sunnyside primary school before attending Bokgoni technical high school in Pretoria.
He went on to study at the Tshwane University of Technology before pursuing his dream in the music industry as a volunteer producer and presenter of Mashaedi at a popular youth community radio station in Tshwane.
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams also extended his condolences.
“I want to extend my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Oupa. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Sefoka will be laid to rest on November 26 in Ga-Masemola, Apel Fourways Cross.
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