The assault rifle found in the possession of alleged crime figure Katiso “KT” Molefe and suspended police officer Warrant Officer Pule Tau — following the assassination of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart — has been conclusively linked to at least three other high-profile murders, including those of renowned entertainers DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos.
This explosive revelation emerged before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday, where senior forensic analyst Captain Solomon Modisane detailed how ballistic evidence tied the AK-47 rifle to a trail of organised, violent crime spanning multiple provinces.
Swart, a well-known engineer, was gunned down in Bramley, Johannesburg, in April 2024. His company had reportedly uncovered irregularities involving a Transnet tender linked to Molefe, raising suspicions that corruption may have played a role in the hit.
Modisane, who serves with the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal, testified that he was tasked with comparing ballistic evidence from the Swart murder scene with three other cases under investigation.
“That AK-47 is the same AK-47 that was found in possession of the suspects arrested in Bramley,” Modisane told the commission. “This is the same gun that murdered DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos and Mr Don Tindleni.”
The linked cases include:
• Sandton, November 2022 — the execution-style killing of popular musician Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka and his bodyguards.
• Orlando, Soweto, March 2022 — the drive-by assassination of amapiano artist Hector “DJ Vintos” Buthelezi.
• Orlando, February 2023 — the murder of businessman Don Tindleni.
Modisane confirmed that additional criminal cases may still be connected to the weapon.
The testimony strengthens suspicions that an organised criminal network — with potential links to state corruption — may be responsible for multiple hits targeting individuals seen as threats. It also raises serious questions about the involvement of sanctioned police personnel in contract killings.
Molefe and Tau were arrested shortly after Swart’s murder and remain behind bars. Molefe is widely believed to wield influence in the underworld, particularly in Gauteng’s illicit economy.
The Madlanga Commission continues to probe allegations of collusion between senior police officials and criminal syndicates — a collaboration many believe is fuelling South Africa’s rise in political and organised violence.
The commission’s findings are expected to inform major reforms within law enforcement, as families await justice for loved ones whose murders remain unsolved.