The port of Cape Town. File photo, not the scene of the attack. Photo: SkyPixels / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Crime and Courts: South Africa

Anthea Wilkinson, a Cape Town pastor, died after an attack on a car she was riding in. Hundreds of residents then blocked the road to demand action.

Anthea Wilkinson, a 53-year-old pastor from Cape Town, died on 24 October 2026, according to police. She had been attacked in a car on Sunday 11 October at the junction of the R300 road and Jakes Gerwel Drive.

Hundreds of residents later blocked the road to demand justice and action. We found no police or court statement on any arrest or charge, so none is reported here as fact.

What We Know About the Attack

Smile 90.4FM, a Cape Town radio station, reported on 27 October 2026 that a white Ford Figo was attacked at the corner of the R300 road and Jakes Gerwel Road. It said police in Samora Machel, the area where the junction lies, are investigating cases of murder, malicious damage to property and common assault.

The Daily Voice, a Cape Town newspaper, reported on 2 November that hundreds of residents brought traffic to a standstill on Jakes Gerwel Road on a Sunday afternoon, demanding justice for Wilkinson. It added that the protest was supported by a group called the Africa Restoration Alliance.

Cape Town City Hall, with the Grand Parade square in front. File photo, not related to the case. Photo: Martinvl / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

What Is Not Known

Police say Wilkinson died on Saturday 24 October. Her church told Smile 90.4FM it was Sunday 25 October, and we use the police date.

The Daily Voice and Smile 90.4FM both said no one had been arrested when they wrote. We found no later police or court statement on an arrest or a charge.

What Residents Are Asking For

Charmaine Heywood, a church leader quoted by the Daily Voice, asked: “Why don’t they come and build a wall here to keep us safe?” Church members told the paper that a car carrying a church member and her mother home from the funeral was allegedly attacked the day before the protest.

We found no published court roll, prosecutor statement or City of Cape Town statement on the case, so no court date is confirmed here. Readers should treat any date quoted elsewhere as unconfirmed until a court or the police publish it.

For more on the city, see our Cape Town City Guide and our report on the Cape Town airport cash heist arrest. More coverage sits on our South Africa news page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Anthea Wilkinson?

She was a 53-year-old pastor at Jesus Celebration International in Cape Town. Police say she died on 24 October 2026 after an attack on 11 October.

Has anyone been charged over the attack?

We found no police or court statement on any charge or arrest. Police in Samora Machel told Smile 90.4FM they are investigating murder, malicious damage and common assault cases.

When is the next court date?

We could not confirm any court date. We found no court roll or prosecutor statement.

Is Jakes Gerwel Drive safe for visitors?

We found no official safety rating for the road. Governments publish travel advisories for South Africa, which are the place to check.