Rich lists

Kenny Kunene’s R1.27 Million Watches Spark Backlash

Published

2 months ago

July 29, 2025

Chiraag

Kenny Kunene watches, AP Royal Oak Chronograph, DJ Sumbody case, South African celebrity scandals, political news 2025, Molefe Sandton arrest, flashy wristwear, public backlash Kunene, Joburg ETC

“Wrong place, wrong time,” but the right wristwear?

South African politician and former “Sushi King” Kenny Kunene is back in the spotlight, though not for anything he said. Instead, all eyes were on his wrists during a recent TV interview, where he was seen wearing two luxury watches worth a combined R1.27 million.

Kunene appeared on air to clear his name after being linked to Katiso Molefe, the businessman recently arrested as the alleged mastermind behind the 2022 murder of DJ Sumbody. While Kunene insisted he was simply escorting a journalist for an exclusive interview at Molefe’s Sandton mansion, viewers were captivated by his accessories.

Two watches; one headline

Kunene’s wristwear, unmissable on screen, included:

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph: estimated retail value: R1.25 million
U-Boat Darkmoon (Neon Green): valued around R22,000 to R30,000

Together, the pieces total over R1.27 million. While Kunene claimed he was in the “wrong place at the wrong time,” South Africans on social media were far from convinced.

“Only Kenny Kunene would wear a R1 million AP while saying, ‘I’m just a journalist’s chaperone,’” quipped one user on X (formerly Twitter).

What is the DJ Sumbody case about?

DJ Sumbody, whose real name was Oupa John Sefoka, was shot dead in a suspected targeted hit in 2022. The murder stunned the local entertainment industry and left fans reeling. Now, in July 2025, businessman Katiso Molefe has been arrested in connection with the killing.

The investigation is still unfolding, and several individuals are reportedly facing charges relating to murder and illegal firearm possession.

Kunene confirmed he was present at Molefe’s Sandton home during the arrest but insists he doesn’t know Molefe personally. According to Kunene, he was simply there to assist a journalist from his media company, African News Global, in gaining access to the interview.

“I don’t know Mr Molefe. I don’t have his number. I’ve done nothing wrong,” Kunene stated.

South Africans are asking questions

Although Kunene is not currently facing any charges, his unexpected presence at a high-profile arrest, combined with his flashy display of wealth, has sparked heated debate.

Kunene’s lifestyle has long been marked by flamboyance, dating back to his “Sushi King” days when he famously served sushi off models’ bodies. Now, years later, his public image is once again under scrutiny, this time in the context of a murder investigation.

In a country still grappling with deep economic inequality, violent crime, and political distrust, the image of a public figure wearing over a million rand’s worth of watches while denying involvement in a criminal case has understandably raised eyebrows.

Is there more to the story?

Police have confirmed that the DJ Sumbody murder case remains an active investigation. Kunene maintains that he is “fully cooperating” with law enforcement and that he has nothing to hide.

Whether his involvement is as limited as he claims, or if more details will emerge, remains to be seen.

For now, the real question on everyone’s lips is not why he was there…
But why wear that?