Former Knysna mayor Aubrey Tsengwa shot dead in Joodsekamp

Former Knysna mayor Aubrey Tsengwa was fatally shot in Joodsekamp on Wednesday night. The 48-year-old, who represented Ward 8 comprising Concordia and Joodsekamp, had served as executive mayor from August 2022 to February 2025. Police responded to a call at around 9:20pm on Ngxalo Street and discovered Tsengwa with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.

Sergeant Wesley Twigg of the police reported that an assailant had approached Tsengwa's vehicle and opened fire before fleeing the scene. One of the vehicle's passengers sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The police have not yet identified any suspects or determined a motive for the shooting.

The ANC, Tsengwa's political party, expressed shock at his death and promised to release an official statement once more information became available. The Democratic Alliance's Knysna mayoral candidate, Levael Davis, called for the arrest of those responsible, emphasizing the need for the perpetrators to face justice. Tsengwa's tenure as mayor was marked by several motions of no confidence and his eventual resignation from his Ward 8 seat in March 2025.