Key Takeaways
- On Thursday night, former Knysna councillor Mandla Matiwane and taxi boss Mandla Tyololo were shot dead in Bongani, a day after ward 8 councillor and former mayor Aubrey Tsengwa was killed in his car in Joodsekamp.
- Police have launched a manhunt through the provincial serious violent crime unit and are examining whether the two shootings are linked, though no arrests have been made.
- Matiwane and Tyololo were central figures in the trial over the 2018 assassination of ANC councillor Victor Molosi; Tyololo was acquitted after more than two years in custody, while Matiwane testified as a state witness.
- Tsengwa, who had been removed as executive mayor in February 2025 by his coalition partners, regained his ward 8 seat in a June 2025 by‑election before his murder.
- The killings have heightened tensions in Knysna, prompting renewed scrutiny of political rivalries, taxi‑industry influence, and the lingering aftermath of the Molosi case.
Overview of the Thursday Night Shootings
On the evening of Thursday, gunmen opened fire on a vehicle travelling through the Bongani area of Knysna, fatally wounding two occupants: former ANC ward 7 councillor Mandla Matiwane, aged 47, and Mandla Tyololo, aged 48, the secretary of the Knysna Taxi Forum. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the attack occurred at approximately 9 p.m., with the assailants firing from outside the vehicle before fleeing on foot. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The incident followed closely on the heels of another fatal shooting the previous night, raising immediate concerns about a possible spate of targeted violence in the municipality.
Details of the Aubrey Tsengwa Killing
The preceding night, Wednesday, ward 8 councillor and former executive mayor Aubrey Tsengwa was shot while driving home along Ngxalo Street in the Joodsekamp neighbourhood. Tsengwa, 48, was accompanied by three passengers when a gunman approached the vehicle, discharged multiple rounds, and then fled on foot. Tsengwa sustained several gunshot wounds to the head and upper torso and died at the scene; one passenger suffered an arm injury and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Police have opened a murder case against the unknown shooter and three counts of attempted murder for the injured passengers. The timing of Tsengwa’s death—just hours before the Bongani shooting—prompted investigators to consider whether the two attacks might be related.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
Brigadier Potelwa confirmed that detectives from the provincial serious violent crime unit have taken charge of both investigations. The unit, which had already been probing the Wednesday shooting of Tsengwa, was reinforced following the Thursday incident. Investigators are actively pursuing leads, conducting forensic examinations, and interviewing witnesses in an effort to identify the perpetrators. At present, no arrests have been made in either case, and the motive remains undetermined. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that the shootings are being treated as priority cases given their potential political ramifications.
Background on the Victor Molosi Murder Case
The shootings of Matiwane and Tyololo cannot be fully understood without revisiting the high‑profile murder of ANC ward 8 councillor Victor Molosi in July 2018. Molosi, who was also the ANC’s mayoral candidate for Knysna, was shot in the head outside his Concordia residence after attending a school governing body meeting. The killing shocked the community and triggered an intensive police investigation that eventually led to the arrest of several suspects. In December 2019, three individuals—former ward 4 councillor Velile Waxa, former municipal official Mawande Makhala, and Cape Town resident Vela Patrick Dumile—were convicted of Molosi’s murder and sentenced accordingly.
Matiwane and Tyololo’s Roles in the Molosi Trial
Mandla Tyololo was arrested weeks after Molosi’s death and charged with conspiracy to have the councillor killed. He spent more than two years in pretrial custody before the Knysna Regional Court acquitted him on 25 August 2020, citing insufficient evidence to prove his involvement beyond a reasonable doubt. Mandla Matiwane, meanwhile, served as a state witness during the same trial. He testified that he and Tyololo had contested an ANC ward‑committee position in 2016 but had remained on good terms, and that his personal relationship with Molosi had deteriorated after Molosi accused him of wishing him dead. Matiwane also submitted a written objection to Tyololo’s bail application, arguing that releasing him would jeopardise community peace. The acquittal of Tyololo and Matiwane’s testimony left lingering animosities among certain political factions in Knysna.
Political Context Surrounding Aubrey Tsengwa
Aubrey Tsengwa’s career in Knysna politics was marked by both ascent and controversy. He served as the town’s executive mayor from August 2022 until February 2025, when his own coalition partners—the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Knysna Independent Movement—voted to remove him from office. Following his ouster, Tsengwa resigned his ward 8 seat in March 2025, only to win it back in a by‑election held in June 2025. His return to the council positioned him once again as a prominent figure in local governance, making his murder a significant blow to the political landscape and raising questions about potential motives tied to his recent reinstatement.
Community Impact and Reactions
The back‑to‑back killings have sent shockwaves through Knysna’s residents, local businesses, and civic organisations. Many community members have expressed fear that the violence may be linked to ongoing political rivalries or to the unresolved tensions stemming from the Molosi case. Taxi‑industry representatives, cognizant of Tyololo’s role as forum secretary, have called for heightened security measures and urged the police to expedite their investigation. Political parties operating in the area have issued statements condemning the attacks and demanding swift justice, while also urging calm and restraint to prevent further escalation.
Current Status and Outlook
As of the latest updates, the police continue to treat the two shootings as separate but potentially connected incidents, with the provincial serious violent crime unit leading the manhunt. Investigators have not disclosed any suspects or leads publicly, maintaining that the motive remains under active examination. The absence of arrests has left a vacuum of accountability, prompting civic leaders to advocate for increased patrols, community‑watch initiatives, and transparent communication from law enforcement. Moving forward, the resolution of these cases will be critical not only for delivering justice to the victims and their families but also for restoring a sense of safety and stability in Knysna, a town still grappling with the repercussions of past political violence.