KEY POINTS
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Police arrested a 44-year-old suspected hitman in Peddie, Eastern Cape.
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He is accused of murdering former Knysna Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa in August.
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He faces one murder charge and three attempted murder charges.
South African police have arrested a 44-year-old man suspected of being a hired assassin in connection with the murder of former Knysna Executive Mayor, Aubrey Tsengwa.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the suspect was arrested on Friday, November 6, 2026, following an investigation by its Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
According to the police, investigators traced the suspect to Peddie in the Eastern Cape, where he was apprehended during an operation.
Tsengwa was shot dead on August 19, 2026, while sitting inside his car in Knysna. Three other people were in the vehicle at the time of the attack but survived.
Suspect Faces Murder and Attempted Murder Charges
Police said the 44-year-old suspect remained in custody and was expected to appear before the Knysna Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 9.
He is facing one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder, corresponding to the attack that killed Tsengwa and endangered the lives of the three other occupants of the vehicle.
The arrest followed investigations by the PKTT, a specialised police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings. The arrest marks a development in the investigation into Tsengwa’s killing, which took place in August.
However, police have not disclosed further details about the suspect’s alleged role in the murder, whether other people were involved or what may have motivated the attack.
The suspect is yet to face trial, and the charges against him remain allegations until established in court.
