Former Knysna mayor murder: Alleged hitman arrested

Police have arrested a 44-year-old suspected hitman in connection with the murder of former Knysna mayor Aubrey Tsengwa, who was gunned down in August.

Detectives from the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) tracked the suspect to Peddie in the Eastern Cape, where they arrested him during an operation on Friday, 6 November.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrest on Sunday.

Suspect faces murder charges

Mathe said the arrest followed an investigation into Tsengwa’s murder on 19 August 2026.

Tsengwa was sitting in his vehicle in Knysna with three other occupants when gunmen opened fire, killing him.

The three other occupants survived.

Police have charged the suspect with murder and three counts of attempted murder.

He remains in custody and is expected to appear in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 9 November.

Political killings under spotlight

The arrest comes as the United Democratic Movement (UDM) calls for the PKTT to investigate the murder of its Nelson Mandela Bay councillor, Luxolo Namette, who was shot dead in Motherwell, Gqeberha, on Saturday, 7 November.

The UDM fears Namette’s killing may have been politically motivated, although police have yet to establish a motive.