Cachalia vows justice after Knysna killings as four face court

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia visited Knysna after the killings of former mayor Aubrey Tsengwa and two other men, received a police briefing and vowed that the State would pursue justice as four suspects face charges in the case.

What happened

According to The Citizen, Aubrey Tsengwa was shot dead on 20 August 2026 in Joodsekamp. The Citizen reports that Tsengwa was driving with three passengers when an unknown man opened fire on the vehicle before fleeing on foot.

Arrests and court appearances

According to The Citizen, four suspects are in custody and have been charged with conspiracy to commit the murder of Mr Tsengwa. The Citizen says one suspect will appear before the Knysna Magistrate’s Court tomorrow while the other three suspects will appear again on Monday, 31 August 2026 for formal bail applications.

Minister’s visit and police briefing

The Citizen reports that Cachalia visited Knysna on 25 August 2026 and received a comprehensive briefing from the South African Police Service (Saps) on the investigations into the killings.

Other victims and ongoing enquiries

The Citizen also reports that two other men, identified as Mr Tyololo and Mr Matiwane, were killed in a separate shooting and that investigations into that incident remain ongoing.

Condolences and assurances

According to The Citizen, Cachalia visited the families of Mr Tsengwa, Mr Tyololo and Mr Matiwane to convey his condolences and pay his respects.

The Citizen quotes Cachalia commending the Saps investigative teams for progress and urging continued determination. In his remarks quoted by The Citizen he said:

“The progress made in these investigations demonstrates that the police are pursuing every available lead. We must ensure that those responsible for these murders are brought to justice. My visit to these families was not only to convey my condolences, but to assure them that the State has a responsibility to pursue justice. We owe it to the families and to the people of Knysna to ensure that these investigations receive the attention and resources they require.”

Next steps

Investigations are ongoing, and the police say they are pursuing leads as the suspects are processed through the courts, according to The Citizen.

Editor’s note: Date corrected to 20 August 2026; an earlier version incorrectly gave 19 August 2026.