Plus 102 Years for Cape Town Murder Spree
CCN Reporting
Cape Town:- The Wynberg Regional Court on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, handed down a crushing sentence to 42-year-old parolee Ayanda Dayi: “four terms of life imprisonment” plus an additional “102 years” direct imprisonment for the brutal murders of four men in Du Noon and Delft last year.
Dayi was convicted on:
– Four counts of murder
– One count of attempted murder
– Robbery with aggravating circumstances
– Theft
– Multiple counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition
In addition to the life sentences, the court imposed:
– 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances
– Three separate 15-year terms for illegal possession of firearms
– 4 years for illegal possession of ammunition
– 10 years for attempted murder
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The crimes that shocked Cape Town unfolded as follows:
On 24 January 2024 in Du Noon, Dayi and an accomplice hijacked a vehicle and executed Eric Yaphi and Elvis Thembelani Cwethiso at point-blank range.
On 16 May 2024 in Delft, the pair ambushed a Sasko bread delivery truck on Symphony Way outside a spaza shop. Chilling CCTV footage captured the moment three bread delivery workers – Xolani Gaji, Cebisile Mfundiso and Aphiwe Nogaya – were shot at point-blank range. Gaji and Mfundiso were killed; Nogaya survived the attempted murder after undergoing emergency surgery.
Dayi committed these offences while on parole for a 2002 rape conviction (for which he had been sentenced to 18 years). He also had previous convictions for robbery and drug possession.
Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile praised the investigating team, led by Lt-Col Adrian Pretorius and W/O Bradley Davids, saying their meticulous work, including facial recognition, ballistics and fingerprint evidence — had brought a dangerous criminal to justice.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila welcomed the sentence, noting that the State had asked for five life terms plus 76 years and that the court had delivered a strong message: repeat violent offenders will be removed from society.
Acting Judge Van Leeve described Dayi as “extremely violent” and showing “complete disregard for human life” with no sign of remorse.
The heavy sentence brings some closure to the devastated families and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of letting serious offenders back onto the streets too soon.
#JusticeServed #CCN #CapeTownCrime #EndViolence
