Phumlani Vokovi, an actor, artist manager, and small-business owner, was shot dead last week as he closed up his hawker stall in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. His wife, Nichume Vokovi, was also shot dead at their home. Friends suspect the murders may be linked to a dispute over a monthly "protection fee" for Vokovi's street stall, which sold tripe for R20 a plate.
According to a friend who did not want to be named, Vokovi had a stand-off with a group of extortionists over the payment. The friend described the extortionists as "brutal" and said people were afraid to speak out against them. The friend also mentioned that Vokovi did not have a funeral policy, and some of his friends in the entertainment industry are now trying to raise funds for his funeral.
The Vokovi family has not confirmed or denied claims that the murders were linked to extortion, saying they want to wait for the outcome of the police investigation. A family member said it was too soon to speak about their deaths and that they would wait for the police report. The family member also requested anonymity for safety reasons.
Extortion has become a significant problem in many neighborhoods in Cape Town. A 34-year-old woman from Steenberg said that protection fees had become routine in her neighborhood, with tenants working out a system to ensure the money was ready when collectors arrived. She said that her yard had about four shacks and that they were woken by a noise one night at 3 am, with the extortionists demanding money.
Western Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Sizakhele Dyantyi reported that 109 extortion cases were reported across the province between April and June 2026. Of these, 52 cases involved protection rackets, including demands for protection fees and taxi-related extortion. Another 38 cases involved financial extortion, including threats to harm victims or their families.
The Western Cape police oversight and community safety MEC, Anroux Marais, said that extortion was not just about stealing money but also about stealing opportunities, which hampers job-creation efforts. A national priority committee on extortion has been established to coordinate the response to the crime, and a national extortion hotline has been set up to allow people to report extortion anonymously.
In the Vokovi case, two counts of murder are being investigated, and no arrests have been made yet. The police are still investigating the incident, and friends and family are calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Key points
- The murders of Phumlani and Nichume Vokovi may be linked to an extortion racket.
- Extortion has become a significant problem in many neighborhoods in Cape Town, with 109 cases reported across the Western Cape between April and June 2026.
- A national priority committee on extortion has been established to coordinate the response to the crime.
