The Wynberg Regional Court has sentenced 42-year-old parolee and convicted serial offender Ayanda Dayi to four life imprisonment terms for the murders of four men in separate incidents across the Western Cape in 2024.
In addition to the life sentences, Dayi received 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, three separate 15-year terms for illegal possession of firearms, four years for illegal possession of ammunition, and 10 years for attempted murder. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
One of the most shocking incidents occurred on 16 May 2024 in Delft, where three Sasko bread employees were ambushed while delivering to a spaza shop along Symphony Way. Video footage of the attack, widely circulated on social media at the time, showed the workers offering no resistance before gunmen opened fire. Two employees, Xolani Gaji and Cebisile Mfundiso, were killed, while Aphiwe Nogaya survived after undergoing surgery.
Earlier that year, on 24 January 2024 in Du Noon, Dayi and an accomplice fatally shot Eric Yaphi and Elvis Thembelani Cwethiso before hijacking their vehicle. Forensic investigations later linked Dayi to the murders through ballistic evidence and fingerprints. Facial recognition technology also assisted investigators in connecting him to the crimes.
Dayi was on parole at the time of the killings, having previously been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment in 2002 for rape. He also has prior convictions for robbery and drug-related offences.
Senior state advocate Esna Erasmus told the court that Dayi’s pattern of extreme violence, lack of remorse and poor prospects of rehabilitation meant the protection of society had to take precedence.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Thembisile Patekile and National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila commended the investigation and prosecution teams, including senior state advocate Esna Erasmus and detectives Lt-Col Adrian Pretorius and W/O Bradley Davids, for securing the convictions.
The court’s ruling brings to a close one of the province’s most disturbing murder cases in recent years.
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