EFF says Flora Park murder accused is not a party member
The party says its branch treasurer was trying to stop a fight when he was fatally stabbed outside a voting station on Election Day.
POLOKWANE – The EFF in Limpopo says the man accused of fatally stabbing one of its branch treasurers at the Flora Park recreational park is not a member of the party.
EFF provincial elections coordinator Rebecca Mohlala made the statement on Friday after Tebogo Tlaka (35) appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder.
She spoke on the sidelines of the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) Results Operations Centre (ROC) at The Ranch Resort, where political parties were monitoring results from Wednesday’s 2026 Local Government Elections.
Tlaka is accused of stabbing 31-year-old Kefentse Lebogang Madiba, an EFF branch treasurer, at about 05:00 on Thursday at the park opposite Flora Park Comprehensive School, which served as a voting station during the local government elections.
READ MORE: Arrest made after fatal stabbing near Flora Park voting station
EFF distances itself from accused
Mohlala denied reports that the incident involved members of the same political party.
“He is not a member,” she said.
“He had a disagreement with an ANC member, but that does not automatically make him an EFF member. He went home, fetched a weapon and came back. Our branch treasurer tried to calm him down because it was Election Day and there was no need to fight. That is when he stabbed him.
“He is not a member. He is a thug.”
Mohlala alleged that Tlaka had previously attacked another person.
“About three months ago, he attacked one of the ANC members with a panga. That case is still pending. We are speaking about a thug. We are not speaking about a comrade. People should not associate that person with the EFF.”
‘He was trying to calm the situation’
She said Madiba had been trying to intervene when two people were fighting.
“What a sad story to tell. Condolences to the family. We will be visiting them later today to offer our support because the person who was killed was a branch treasurer. He was trying to intervene between two people who were fighting when he was stabbed.”
Mohlala appealed to the community to remain calm.
“We call upon the community not to take the law into their own hands. The suspect appeared in court today and we ask the community to leave everything in the hands of the police so that we can have a peaceful area, especially Flora Park.”
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Madiba was among a group of people at the park when an argument broke out between two people.
Although the confrontation was reportedly resolved, the suspect allegedly returned to the scene and confronted Madiba again.
Police allege that he stabbed Madiba in the neck before fleeing. Emergency Medical Services were called, but Madiba was declared dead.
Police recovered a knife believed to have been used in the attack. Tlaka was later traced and arrested.
ALSO READ: Police confirm body found at Flora Park voting station
Court hears accused faces separate pending case
During Tlaka’s court appearance, the defence initially told the court that he had no previous convictions, no outstanding warrants of arrest and was not out on bail in any other matter. However, it later emerged that Tlaka is facing a separate charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, for which he was previously granted R500 bail. That matter is expected to return to court on December 7.
Tlaka’s murder case was postponed to next Friday.
