GAUTENG — Provincial authorities have secured multiple arrests in the devastating Gauteng political killings of EFF member Aaron Makola and ANC councillor Thabang Masemola, signaling a major victory against targeted assassinations. The coordinated takedowns were executed by a specialized investigative unit determined to root out the syndicates responsible for eliminating public servants and party affiliates.
The high-profile operations were driven by the newly established Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). Recognizing the unit’s swift progress, the Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, issued a statement applauding the detectives for their crucial breakthroughs in these complex dockets.
Unmasking a Mamelodi Assassination Plot
Investigators first turned their attention to the assassination of Thabang Masemola, who served as the ANC ward 10 councillor for the City of Tshwane. Masemola was fatally attacked in Mamelodi East on 08 July 2025.
Following an intensive manhunt, the PKTT apprehended two individuals connected to the councillor’s death: a female suspect accused of masterminding the plot, and the alleged hitman. The suspected gunman, identified as 41-year-old Vusimuzi Champ Gebuza, is now facing an expanding rap sheet.
When the pair reappears in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court, the task team intends to formally link Gebuza to two separate historical cases—one murder and one attempted murder—that terrorized the Mamelodi community throughout 2023 and 2024.
Recovering a Missing EFF Member
In a parallel and equally grim investigation, the specialized unit made a breakthrough when they located the remains of EFF member Aaron Makola. Utilizing rapid intelligence tracking and forensic leads, detectives quickly closed in on the individuals responsible for his demise.
The pursuit culminated over the weekend with the arrest of three male suspects, aged 40, 42, and 44. The trio faces a heavy slate of charges, including murder, kidnapping, and robbery. They are slated to make their first appearance before the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 05 August 2026.
A Stern Warning to Violent Syndicates
The string of successful apprehensions has reinforced the SAPS leadership’s resolve to protect democratic representatives. According to Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, the specialized task team is sending a clear message to criminals operating in the province that political violence will not be tolerated.
“These breakthroughs demonstrate SAPS’ unwavering commitment to ensuring that those who commit violent crimes are tracked down and brought before the courts,” Lieutenant General Dimpane stated. “We commend the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team for their tireless efforts and assure the families of the victims, as well as the people of Gauteng, that we remain resolute in our fight against violent crime and politically motivated killings.”
As the province awaits the upcoming court proceedings in both Delmas and Mamelodi, law enforcement maintains that the mandate of the PKTT remains unchanged: dismantle the networks of political assassination and ensure that justice is unequivocally served.
