After months on the run, a man alleged to be at the centre of a violent extortion racket gripping Cape Town’s taxi routes has finally landed in handcuffs.
Vuyolwethu Thukela, who goes by the alias ‘Yesu’, appeared in court this week following his dramatic arrest in Welkom, Free State. Thukela (38) had been one of the Western Cape police’s most wanted fugitives, vanishing from Nyanga in February as investigators closed in.
His court appearance marks a breakthrough in a probe into a series of brutal crimes tied to the local taxi industry, an industry that has, for years, been plagued by intimidation, turf wars, and rising extortion threats.
Authorities say Thukela is behind the brazen murder of a taxi driver who refused to hand over extortion payments. The shooting, which took place during a public meeting on 18 August 2024, sent shockwaves through the local driver community, as it reportedly happened in full view of witnesses.
Just weeks later, in September, he allegedly threatened to kill another driver who also refused to pay ‘protection fees’, a tactic commonly used by criminal networks operating around transport hubs in Cape Town.
By February this year, tensions escalated further. Prosecutors say Thukela set several taxis alight at Nyanga taxi rank and then opened fire on community patrol members who tried to intervene. He is now facing a slew of charges, including murder, attempted murder, arson, and extortion.
His arrest followed a national manhunt and a R100 000 reward offered by police, reflecting the urgency and seriousness of the case. The City of Cape Town has frequently raised alarm over the growing influence of criminal syndicates in the taxi sector, which impacts both public safety and the economy.
The Bloemfontein court postponed Thukela’s case to 24 June for a provisional bail hearing, as per EWN. Meanwhile, investigators are reportedly exploring whether he may be connected to other cases in Delft, Philippi East, and other parts of the Cape Flats.
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Picture: SAPS / Facebook
