Alleged hitman appears in a CT court for murder, extortion & arson
Tshukela faces various charges related to three incidents in Nyanga in 2024 and earlier this year.
Vuyolwethu Tshukela appeared in the Athlone Magistrates Court on 17 June 2025. Tshukela is charged with murder, extortion and arson related to Cape Town's taxi industry. Picture: Carlo Petersen/EWN
CAPE TOWN - An alleged hitman arrested for murder, extortion and arson in Cape Town's taxi industry appeared in the Athlone Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Vuyolwethu Tshukela was arrested in the Free State on Friday.
Tshukela faces various charges related to three incidents in Nyanga in 2024 and earlier this year.
The 38-year-old, also known as 'Yesu', slunk into the dock, wearing a purple jersey and light blue jeans.
The alleged hitman evaded police for a month after disappearing from Nyanga earlier this year.
He was arrested in Welkom on Friday.
The accused allegedly killed a taxi driver in Nyanga in August last year for refusing to pay him extortion money.
Tshukela also faces charges for threatening to murder another taxi driver for failing to pay protection fees in September last year and for firing gunshots at patrollers after setting taxis alight at Nyanga taxi rank in February this year.
The matter was postponed to 24 June for the State to obtain bail information and for the accused to appoint an attorney.