Aubrey Tsengwa, former Knysna mayor, shot dead in Joodsekamp

Aubrey Tsengwa, a former mayor of Knysna and current ANC Ward 8 councillor, was shot dead in Joodsekamp on the evening of 19 August 2026. The attack occurred around 9:20 pm on Ngxalo Street when an unidentified assailant approached Tsengwa’s vehicle and opened fire.

Tsengwa, 48, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and upper body and was declared dead at the scene. He was traveling with three passengers at the time of the shooting; one passenger was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the arm. The assailant fled the scene on foot, and no arrests have been made.

The Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit is leading the investigation, which is being treated as a murder case alongside three counts of attempted murder. While the motive remains unclear, political leaders and the Bitou Municipality have expressed condolences, noting the risks faced by public representatives. Tsengwa previously served as Knysna’s executive mayor from August 2022 until February 2025.