Phumlani Vokovi, Cape Town actor, artist manager and small-business owner, and his wife Nichume were shot dead in their home in Town Two, Khayelitsha, on 18 September 2026, Western Cape police confirmed. Two murder cases are being investigated but no arrests have been made, said Captain FC van Wyk, spokesperson for SAPS Western Cape.
Vokovi was known locally for selling tripe for R20 a plate from a food stall. According to a report by the Sunday Times, Vokovi was shot while closing his stall, and his wife was killed later at their house. However, police have not confirmed any connection to extortion or protection fees in the killings, and the family has declined to comment on that aspect pending the conclusion of investigations.
“Kindly be advised that two counts of murder was registered for investigation. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and no arrests have been made yet,” Captain van Wyk told Daily Voice on 28 September.
A friend of Vokovi told the Sunday Times that “apparently he refused to pay the required protection fee,” though this remains unverified by police. Community reactions have been of shock and sadness, with a memorial held on 27 September at the Way of Life Church in Makhaya, Khayelitsha, where family and neighbours gathered to mourn the couple.
Speaking to Vuka News, Vokovi’s cousin Linotha Mngcwengi said, “I’m deeply disturbed by the utmost impunity exercised by some people. This was my brother, whom I loved, and he loved me too.” A family member added, “It’s too soon to speak about their deaths. People are talking, but for the sake of our safety we will wait for the police report.”
The killings come amid a growing concern in the Western Cape around extortion targeting informal traders and small businesses. Between April and June 2026, Western Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Sizakhele Dyantyi reported 109 extortion cases in the province. A national priority committee on extortion has been established, and a hotline is available for victims to report such crimes.
Ian Cameron, chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, condemned the violence: “A man selling tripe for R20 a plate should not need permission from criminals to earn a living.”
The police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the murders. No further details have been confirmed, and the exact motive remains unclear. The family’s privacy is being respected as the community processes this tragedy.