The body of missing Nehawu provincial deputy chair Lizo Vakala was found burnt beyond recognition next to Addo Road, in Motherwell, Gqeberha, on Tuesday evening.
Vakala was last seen by his family driving a white VW Polo in Kwazakhele on Saturday afternoon.
Police spokesperson Captain André Beetge said the 64-year-old had gone to repair his car at about 3pm.
“At about 2.30pm on Sunday, Vakala was reported missing when he failed to return home,” Beetge said.
“His vehicle has since been recovered in Wells Estate on Monday morning.”
Beetge said police were investigating a case of murder.
No-one had been arrested.
“After intensive investigation, the badly burnt body of Vakala was found last night [Tuesday] at about 9pm,” Beetge said.
“His body was found under dense bushes close to the R334 and R335 crossing (Monument Crossing on Addo Road), Motherwell.”
The ANC on Wednesday condemned the “cold-blooded murder” of Vakala.
The party’s provincial communications head, Gift Ngqondi, paid tribute to the fallen leader.
“He was always at the forefront of the struggle to liberate the downtrodden masses of our people and spent time in detention without trial at St Albans prison in 1985 under the notorious state of emergency.
“Upon his release from detention, he became part of Motherwell Forum.”
Ngqondi described Vakala as a “loyal and forthright cadre who served the ANC with integrity”.
"[He] never wavered in his fight for social justice, having served in the ANC structures since the movement was unbanned in 1990.”
The former ward councillor led various ANC structures in Nelson Mandela Bay over the years.
“He had a deep understanding of what it means to truly serve the masses of our people and this is a legacy he leaves behind,” Ngqondi said.
“A very skillful negotiator and humble leader, Comrade Vaks was known for his political acumen as well as an ability to explain complex political concepts to ordinary workers.
“Comrade Vaks remains a symbol of dual membership of the ANC-led alliance, an alliance forged and nourished through the selfless blood of workers and the downtrodden.
“We implore the country’s law enforcement agencies to pursue, arrest and prosecute the heartless and cold-blooded killers of comrade Vakala,” he said.
“It’s extremely worrying that criminals continue to kill innocent souls unabated with impunity in Nelson Mandela Bay with no-one getting arrested.
“The time has come for the wheels of justice to roll over those who continue to prey on innocent South Africans.”
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