Retired Hawks head Dr. Godfrey Lebeya has strongly denied ever communicating with Katiso Molefe, the alleged mastermind behind the killing of musician DJ Sumbody. His statement contradicts earlier claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The dispute stems from Mkhwanazi’s comments during a December 2023 media briefing, where he claimed that Molefe—arrested for the murder of Armand Swart—had called Lebeya during the arrest. Mkhwanazi suggested this indicated a prior connection between the two.
But Lebeya, speaking publicly for the first time since retirement, rejected the claim. “Mkhwanazi was misled,” he said. “The sources who told him I spoke to Molefe lied. There was no such call.” He challenged anyone to provide proof of the alleged communication.
The accusation had raised concerns about possible interference in high-profile cases. Molefe, a key suspect in Swart’s murder, has also been linked to the 2022 killing of DJ Sumbody (real name Oupa Sefoka).
Retired Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya says KZN police boss Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s sources lied to him when they said he spoke to the ‘mastermind’ in the murder of DJ Sumbody, Katiso Molefe, last December. Mkhwanazi divulged that when Molefe was being nabbed for Armand Swart’s murder,… pic.twitter.com/iRbz53RKpO
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 23, 2025
Lebeya, who led the Hawks before stepping down, defended his record, stating: “It’s irresponsible to claim, without evidence, that I was in contact with a wanted suspect.”
So far, Mkhwanazi and SAPS have not responded to Lebeya’s denial. The dispute highlights growing tensions over communication and trust within South Africa’s top law enforcement agencies.
With public interest mounting in these unsolved murders, Lebeya’s rebuttal also raises questions about the accuracy of police intelligence and the risks of misinformation among senior officials.
