One of South Africa's most wanted fugitives arrested in Welkom
After months of evading capture and with a R100 000 reward on his head, one of South Africa's most dangerous fugitives, Vuyolwethu Tshukela, better known by the alias 'Yesu', has been arrested in Welkom in the Free State.
The 38-year-old, originally from Mthatha, was apprehended on Friday, 13 June, following a coordinated investigation by Western Cape police.
Tshukela had been on the Western Cape's most-wanted list since early 2024, linked to a violent criminal syndicate operating within the province's embattled taxi industry.
Authorities say Tshukela is connected to a string of murders, extortion schemes, and arson attacks across Cape Town's most volatile areas, including Philippi East, Nyanga, and Delft.
He was allegedly at the centre of turf wars that left several taxi owners and operators dead.
In August 2024, police tied him to a spate of targeted killings in the Cape Flats, followed by further violence in September, prompting the SAPS to issue a public alert and later announce a cash reward for any information leading to his arrest.
'This was a long and complex operation involving intelligence-led policing and cooperation with community informants,' a police spokesperson said.
Tshukela's capture is being hailed as a major breakthrough, but investigators stress the work is far from over.
Police believe he did not act alone, and that his arrest may expose a wider criminal network entrenched in the local transport sector.
His syndicate allegedly used violence and fear to assert control over minibus taxi routes, with firebombings and executions used as intimidation tactics.
Tshukela is scheduled to appear at the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 17 June, where he will face multiple charges – including murder, attempted murder, arson, extortion, and racketeering.
More charges may follow as investigators continue to build a full picture of the syndicate's operations.
'This is a significant arrest, but it's just the beginning. We expect more suspects to follow,' police confirmed.
The case highlights the ongoing crisis in the taxi industry, where disputes over routes and revenue have turned deadly in several parts of the country.
Communities across the Western Cape have called for stronger regulation and policing of the sector, which remains a critical but often volatile component of public transport.
Tshukela's arrest may mark a turning point in those efforts – or simply the unveiling of deeper criminal entrenchment.
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