Knysna councillor and former mayor Aubrey Tsengwa shot dead

Knysna ward councillor and former mayor Aubrey Tsengwa was shot dead in Joodsekamp on Wednesday night.

Police said the 48-year-old was driving with three passengers when an armed man approached the vehicle and opened fire.

Police spokesman Sergeant Wesley Twigg said officers arrived at Ngxalo Street in Joodsekamp at about 9.20pm.

Tsengwa found with multiple gunshot wounds

They found Tsengwa with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and upper body. Emergency personnel declared him dead at the scene.

The gunman fled on foot after the shooting.

One of the passengers suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and went to hospital for treatment.

Police have not arrested anyone and have not established a motive.

Detectives are following several leads while forensic officers process the scene.

Tsengwa served as Knysna mayor

Tsengwa represented Ward 8, which includes Concordia and Joodsekamp.

He became Knysna’s executive mayor in August 2022 after the ANC, Patriotic Alliance, Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners and EFF voted the DA’s Levael Davis out of office.

Tsengwa won the mayoral vote 11-10 and remained in the position until February 2025.

He faced several motions of no confidence during his time as mayor before coalition partners removed him from office.

Tsengwa resigned as a Ward 8 councillor on March 31, 2025, shortly before a special investigation into councillors who had made political appointments that the Western Cape High Court found illegal.

The ANC suspended him in April 2025, accusing him of undermining the party by resigning and forcing a by-election.

However, the party later nominated him for the Ward 8 by-election in June 2025. Tsengwa won with 52.12% of the vote.

Political parties condemn killing

Knysna mayor Thando Matika confirmed Tsengwa’s death on Thursday morning.

ANC member Phumla Thole described the killing as shocking and mourned Tsengwa’s contribution to the party and community.

DA Knysna mayoral candidate Levael Davis also condemned the killing and called on police to arrest those responsible.

“Whatever our political differences, we shared a commitment to serving our community,” Davis said.