Thembinkosi Apleni found dead at his home in Qonce

EFF Member of parliament, Thembinkosi Apleni was found dead at his home on Friday in Qonce, Eastern Cape, the party confirmed.

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EFF MEMBER DIES AT HIS HOME

Thembinkosi Apleni represented the Eastern Cape as an EFF permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) from 2019.

No details on the cause of death have been shared by the party thus far.

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Thembinkosi Apleni joined the EFF after its inception and was appointed the party’s provincial secretary in 2015. His memorial service will be held on Thursday and the funeral service is expected to take place on Saturday.

Both services will be held in Qonce, with the exact venues to be communicated in due course, said EFF provincial secretary Simthembile Madikizela.

“It is with a sad heart that the Economic Freedom Fighters in the Eastern Cape (EFF EC) announces the details for the memorial and funeral service of our brother,” Madikizela said.

He added that, “Fighter Thembinkosi Apleni lost his life on Friday and leaves behind his family, friends and colleagues both in the EFF and in parliament.”

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‘THEMBINKOSI APLENI, THE PEOPLES PERSON’

Apleni is described by his comrades as a person who dedicated his life to the struggle of improving other people’s lives.

“Fighter Apleni dedicated his life to the struggle of improving the lives of others. He goes down in history as one of the freedom fighters to have hailed from the ‘Home of Legends’, the Eastern Cape,” Madikizela added.

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Before Thembinkosi Apleni joined parliament, he served as a councillor in the Buffalo City Municipality.

The National Assembly leadership said on Sunday it was saddened by the “unexpected and sudden passing” of Apleni.

Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and NCOP chair Amos Masondo expressed shock and profound sadness at the news of Apleni’s death.