DUNOON, CAPE TOWN — In the wake of the brutal murder of Sinovuyo Dyokwe in Dunoon, the Democratic Alliance has announced a R50,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The slain political activist was a prominent local figure and the party’s recent candidate in municipal by-elections.
The fatal attack occurred on a Saturday along Mandi Road. According to frightened local residents who witnessed the aftermath, the street echoed with roughly eight gunshots. When they finally emerged from their homes, they discovered the lifeless body of the civic leader, who had spent her final hours actively encouraging community members to register for the upcoming elections.
JP Smith, the DA spokesperson and Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, described the incident as a highly coordinated hit rather than a random act of violence. Smith detailed that multiple men ambushed Dyokwe, firing at her approximately 10 times. He emphasized that she was shot repeatedly even after collapsing to the pavement. Furthermore, her mobile phone was abandoned at the scene, effectively ruling out robbery or an opportunistic crime.
Deeply affected by the loss, senior party officials traveled to the township to console Dyokwe’s grieving family, offering financial support to help cover funeral expenses. The leadership delegation also visited the exact spot on Mandi Road to lay wreaths, paying tribute to a dedicated grassroots organizer who was vital to expanding the party’s reach in the constituency.
The assassination follows a chilling pattern of intimidation. Smith disclosed that Dyokwe had been targeted by an extortion syndicate earlier in the year. In February, she reported that criminals demanded either a R10,000 lump sum or monthly “protection” fees of R1,500. Refusing to bow to their demands, she faced relentless threats that eventually forced her to flee her home and seek temporary shelter elsewhere out of fear for her life.
At the time of the threats, the DA facilitated her visit to the South African Police Service to file a formal statement. Despite this prior intelligence regarding the extortion plot, the Western Cape police have stated that the official motive for the killing is still being established. Authorities have registered a case of murder and are actively investigating the circumstances of her death.