Atlantis, Western Cape – The Atlantis community on the West Coast is in mourning following the brutal murder of Moses Matiso, a 32-year-old community activist and chairperson of the South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO) JS Masakala Branch in Witsand. Matiso was gunned down on Monday morning at his church in Ngonyama Street, Witsand, where he was selflessly cutting grass. His death is widely believed to be a targeted assassination due to his relentless fight against crime.
According to Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, two unknown gunmen stormed the church premises and opened fire on Matiso before fleeing the scene.
"Police members responded to a complaint of a shooting at a church and upon arrival on the scene they found the victim with gunshot wounds to his body. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel," Twigg confirmed. "The motive for the attack forms part of the police investigation."
Matiso's sister, Phathiswa Matiso, recounted the harrowing details of that morning. She told News24 that her brother had left the house with a young family member, heading to the church where he regularly volunteered his time to cut the grass.
"She ran back to us and told us [he] was shot dead. I froze at the words coming out of her mouth. Just as I was about to head to the church, the police and the pastor came to the house and confirmed my brother was dead. [The girl] is in complete shock and cries every chance she gets," she said.
"They shot my brother two times. He died on the scene at the church, the place he loved so much. We are devasted, angry and very hurt by this."
Phathiswa described the family's anguish at having to identify his body at the Salt River Mortuary in Cape Town. "It broke us even further to see him lying on the table motionless. I still cannot believe my brave brother was taken from us like this."
Matiso was a prominent figure in Atlantis, known for his unwavering commitment to justice, service delivery, and community safety. In addition to his role as chairperson of SANCO, he was an active member of the community policing forum (CPF) and a vocal advocate for improved services.
Phathiswa described her brother as a fearless leader who stood up against the lack of service delivery and bravely fought crime.
"He was the heart of Atlantis, and everyone loved and adored him because of his passion for fighting crime," she said. "He was our comfort and the main reason why we saw an improvement in service delivery and more patrolling for the cops due to crime. And now our pillar of strength is gone forever."
The SANCO JS Masakala Branch released a statement expressing their devastation at the loss of a dedicated community leader.
It states: “On Monday, March 31, 2025, he was brutally shot dead at his church located on the corner of Mnga and Mnama Street, Witsand, Atlantis. This heinous act is believed to be linked to many criminal syndicates that have been targeting him ever since he pledged to fight against crime in our community.
"Many of these criminals had been arrested since 2024 but were repeatedly granted bail, allowing them to continue their reign of terror. The failure of the justice system to keep them behind bars has now resulted in this devastating loss.
"We call on Law Enforcement agencies to act swiftly in apprehending those responsible and demand a thorough investigation into the judicial failures that enabled this tragedy. Our community will not be silenced and we will continue to fight for justice and a crime free Witsand.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape also mourned Matiso's death, describing it as a profound loss to the entire Atlantis community.
"Moses was a tireless advocate for justice, service delivery and community safety," said ward councillor Moosa Raise. "His leadership of the JS Masakala branch and his active involvement with the CPF were instrumental in addressing critical service delivery challenges in our communities."
Raise urged police to ensure that those responsible for Matiso's murder were apprehended and brought to justice. "Moses believed in a safer, more just Atlantis and we owe it to his memory to continue his fight," he said.
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, condemned the killing in the strongest terms.
She adds: "I condemn the senseless killing of Moses Matiso in the strongest terms. I call on the South African Police Service to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book."
In November, News24 reported that Matiso and residents marched to the police station in Atlantis to deliver a petition with more than 1 000 signatures demanding action against crime.
Matiso said at the time: "We have united with all community stakeholders to take back [and] to remove criminals from our streets. We're taking back our streets."
The march came a month after gunmen killed five people and seriously injured another five along Old Mamre and Silverstream roads.
Sergeant Twigg is appealing to anyone with any information about this shooting incident to kindly contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Matiso leaves behind his wife, daughter and siblings. His legacy as a fearless advocate for justice and a champion of the community will continue to inspire the people of Atlantis to fight for a safer and more just future.
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