DUNOON, CAPE TOWN — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced a R50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of its councillor candidate, Sinovuyo Dyokwe, in Dunoon, Cape Town. The fatal shooting, which occurred over the weekend, is being treated by party officials as a targeted assassination.
Dyokwe, a prominent local activist who recently stood as the party’s candidate in municipal by-elections, was gunned down on Mandi Road. Local residents, who expressed fear of speaking publicly, reported hearing up to eight gunshots before discovering her body on the street. The attack took place on a Saturday, shortly after she had spent the day mobilizing community members to register for the upcoming elections.
JP Smith, the DA’s spokesperson and Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, indicated that the killing was highly calculated. According to Smith, multiple men accosted Dyokwe as she walked, shooting her approximately ten times. He noted that she was fired upon repeatedly even after falling to the ground. Crucially, her mobile phone was left untouched at the scene, leading investigators to rule out opportunistic crime or robbery.
In the wake of the tragedy, senior party leaders visited Dyokwe’s family in Dunoon to pay their respects and provide financial assistance for her funeral arrangements. They also visited the crime scene to lay wreaths, honoring a woman they described as instrumental in growing the party’s footprint within the constituency.
The murder follows a series of threats Dyokwe had previously reported to authorities. Smith revealed that in February, the late councillor candidate had confided in him about being targeted by an extortion syndicate. The criminals allegedly demanded a lump sum of R10,000 or monthly payments of R1,500 in exchange for “protection.”
After refusing to pay the extortion fees, Dyokwe faced repeated threats, forcing her to temporarily relocate out of fear for her safety. At the time, the DA had arranged for her to open a case and make a formal statement with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Despite the reported history of extortion threats, the Western Cape police have stated that the official motive for the killing remains unknown. Authorities have opened a murder case and are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the political activist.
