Update on DJ Sumbody and Mashata’s murder investigations

DJ Sumbody and DJ Mashata, who were friends, were shot and killed almost two years apart in Johannesburg and Pretoria, respectively.

The South African Police Services (SAPS) recently gave an update on the investigations to the murders of Oupa John Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody, and R&B and soul DJ, Peter “Mashata” Mabuse.

DJ SUMBODY AND DJ MASHATA’S KILLERS STILL ON THE RUN

During a media briefing this week, Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni revealed that the two friend’s killers are still at large.

Mthombeni did, however, add that the police have leads in both DJ Sumbody and DJ Mashata’s cases.

“We’ve assigned Major-General Mbuso Khumalo, who is looking into the investigation. We’re following leads. We’ll be in a position to inform the public when we have a breakthrough. Yes, of course, there’re leads in relation to the two cases,” Mthombeni explained.

AMAPIANO DJ’S DEATH

DJ Sumbody – who was an amapiano artist and the co-owner of popular Pretoria and Cape Town nightclubs, Ayepyep Lifestyle – was gunned down on 20 November 2022 in Woodmead, Johannesburg.

In May 2023, Sunday World reported that the Iyamemeza hitmaker’s business partner, Kagiso Setsetse, had relocated to the United Arab Emirates because he feared for his life.

At the time, Setsetse alleged that he was receiving death threats from alleged 28s gang leader, Ralph Stanfield, who allegedly wanted to hijack their Cape Town establishment.

According to the businessman, Stanfield was employed to improve security at Ayepyep Cape Town, but later threatened them to give him a share of the business. He also accused the alleged gang boss of feeding DJ Sumbody’s family lies about him.

Following these claims, Setsetse filed an urgent interdict against Stanfield in the Western Cape High Court in April. Months later, he opened a criminal case against Stanfield.

Setsetse owned one-third of the shares at the establishment, another third of the shares went to Barbara Johnson (Stanfield’s mother-in-law) and a third to DJ Sumbody’s estate.

In September, the Sunday Times reported that Setsetse sold half of his stake to Johnson and the other half to DJ Sumbody’s estate for R1.75 million each.

DJ MASHATA’S MURDER

DJ Mashata, who was DJ Sumbody’s friend and a Mamelodi Sundowns stadium announcer, was shot and killed in a hail of bullets in Soshanguve, northwest of Pretoria, in the early hours of 21 April 2024. He was returning from a gig at Epozini Lifestyle situated in the same township.

Speaking to speaking when SABC News following Mashata’s murder, his mother – Rebecca Mabuse – called for justice.

“Let it not just be interviews, let it not a visit of the premier to my house or the councillor to my house. Let it be that justice is served.”