Missing EFF Member Found Dead in Bush as Gauteng Political Killings Task Team Intensifies Murder Investigation
Body of Aaron Makola discovered weeks after disappearance as police pursue killers and investigate possible motive
The search for a missing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member has ended in tragedy after Gauteng’s specialised Political Killings Task Team discovered his body in a bush near Delmas, bringing a grim conclusion to weeks of uncertainty for his family.
Fifty one year old Aaron Makola, who was reported missing earlier this month, was found dead after an intensive police investigation. Authorities believe he was shot before his body was dumped, and detectives are now working to identify both those who carried out the killing and anyone who may have planned it.
According to the South African Police Service, Makola disappeared on 10 July 2026 in Bronkhorstspruit. His vehicle was found abandoned the following day, raising immediate concerns about his safety and prompting an investigation into his whereabouts.
SAPS National Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team officially took over the investigation on Monday, 20 July 2026, after engaging with Makola’s family and gathering critical information about his disappearance.
“The investigation led members of the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team to Delmas on Thursday, 30 July 2026, where the body of the EFF member was tragically discovered,” Mathe said.
Preliminary findings indicate that Makola had been shot before his body was abandoned in a bush. His family has since formally identified his remains.
The discovery has intensified the investigation, with police confirming that detectives are now in the advanced stages of tracking down everyone linked to the murder. This includes both those believed to have carried out the killing and any individuals suspected of orchestrating the crime.
Investigators are also working to establish the motive behind the murder, with the Political Killings Task Team continuing to examine all available evidence.
The case has once again drawn attention to the complex and often deadly investigations handled by specialised police units tasked with probing politically linked crimes in Gauteng. While no arrests have yet been announced, police say significant progress has been made and further developments are expected as the investigation continues.
Authorities have urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward as detectives work to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
