DA offers R50,000 reward for information following murder of activist

The DA is offering a R50,000 reward that could lead to the arrest of the murderer of DA ward candidate and community activist, Sinovuyo Dyokwe, who was gunned down on her way home on Saturday evening.

Dyokwe had spent the day helping out at a voter registration venue. Police say a lone gunman approached her on foot on Mnandi Street at around 18:00 and shot her.

Chairperson of the DA’s Cape Metro Region, JP Smith, says there are some worrying indications that Dyokwe may have been targeted.

“Immediately, various people came forward with information around things that they were aware of that they thought may have relevance and may have led to this. I think the most disturbing is the extortion case she made in February. She approached me with information that she had been threatened in relation to an extortion matter where a group of men had demanded protection money from her. We arranged for her to go and open a case with the South African police at Milnerton SAPS.”

Smith says extortion remains a huge problem in Du Noon.

He has also called on the National Government to obtain the necessary crime intelligence and determine whether there is an imminent risk of political violence and intimidation that will mar the freedom, fairness, and safety of the upcoming local government elections.

Smith says the City’s investigators are working closely with the SAPS, and they have been speaking to several witnesses.

“We have informed the police that the DA is offering a R50,000 reward for information, if that should help get informants to come forward.”

DA Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis on Sunday visited Dyokwe’s family to pay his respects. He says Dyokwe recently helped grow the DA to its best-ever by-election results in Du Noon.

Hill-Lewis says the party cannot rule out political motives for her murder.

“It would be deeply worrying if the DA’s growing presence and support in townships across South Africa is met with intimidation and violence. That has no place in a democratic South Africa. I urge the police to act swiftly to find those who did this.”