SAPS captain killed in Knysna shootout during political murder probe

A midnight police operation in Knysna turned deadly on Wednesday, leaving a 50-year-old SAPS Tactical Response Team (TRT) captain and a suspect dead after a shootout.

The operation formed part of an investigation into a series of political murders, including the killing of former Knysna mayor and councillor Aubrey Tsengwa.

SAPS captain killed during operation

Western Cape police confirmed that the captain died while officers followed up on information about illegal firearms at the Sewende Laan informal settlement on Uniondale Road.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the captain was attached to the provincial Tactical Response Team and had been deployed to assist with investigations into Tsengwa’s murder and two other recent shooting incidents.

The suspect, a 38-year-old man, also died during the exchange of gunfire. Police recovered two firearms from the scene.

SAPS has provided psychosocial support to officers who responded to the incident and the captain’s colleagues in Cape Town.

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sizakhele Dyantyi expressed condolences to the captain’s family and fellow officers.

Knysna killings under investigation

The deadly shootout comes as police continue investigating the murders of Tsengwa, Mandla Tyololo and Mandla Matiwane.

Gunmen shot Tsengwa dead in Joodsekamp on 19 August while he was travelling with passengers.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia visited Knysna on 25 August after the killings and received a briefing from SAPS officials on the investigations.

Cachalia also met with local leaders and highlighted the seriousness of the attacks, which have raised concerns about political violence in the area.

Four suspects arrested

Police have arrested four suspects linked to an alleged plot to murder Tsengwa.

Investigations into the deaths of Tyololo and Matiwane are continuing as police work to uncover those behind the killings.

Cachalia offered condolences to the victims’ families and praised SAPS members for pursuing leads to bring those responsible to justice.