PUDEMO MEMBER ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF EFF’S GARDEE’S DAUGHTER

MBABANE –  A member of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) is allegedly among the suspects who have been arrested in connection with the tragic death of Hillary Gardee.

Hillary was the firstborn daughter to the South African Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Head of International Relations Godrich Gardee. According to various South Africa news sites, the suspect, whose name is known but will not be revealed at this stage, is scheduled to appear in court today. The suspect was nabbed on Friday after the South African Police Service (SAPS) launched an investigation into the murder of Hillary. It has been alleged that the suspect left the country in 1998. PUDEMO Secretary General (SG) Wandile Dludlu said as a party they were aware of the serious allegations levelled against their member.

Developments

He said as a party, they were following the developments since they did not have much information. “We are confident that most of the information will be made available as the legal process unfolds. We haven’t got much to say about the allegations other than to say it’s a sad one for the Gardee family and as PUDEMO we extend our sincere condolences to them,” said Dludlu. He added that they were confident that the law would take its course and the truth would be made public. He said this was not the time to talk organisation to organisation politics because as Africans, “we treat death with utmost respect.” He added that members of PUDEMO NEC were in attendance at the funeral show their support to the family and to pay their last respects.

“We are all devastated. We also hope that the truth will clear the dust soon,” added the SG. Dludlu, on behalf of the organisation, released a statement later on last night, confirming the arrest of their member in connection with the murder. A South African news site, the Daily Maverick, revealed that the multidisciplinary task team swooped on a guesthouse in Mbombela just after 7pm on Friday and raided the house for forensic evidence. The name of the guesthouse is known to Daily Maverick. The breakthrough in the case came exactly 72 hours after police activated a 72-hour action plan to hunt for the murderer(s). It has been gathered that the purported PUDEMO member owned the guesthouse where the murder of the SA politician’s firstborn daughter was allegedly committed and later her body was dumped in a forest.

Abducted

According to the SA publication, Hillary, a 28-year-old IT graduate, was abducted from the Nelspruit Plaza Spar at around 5pm on Friday, April 29, 2022. Passersby found her lifeless body several days later at the edge of a forest on a deserted stretch of the Sabie Road. She was laid to rest on Saturday, where PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya was in attendance with other PUDEMO NEC members. According to Daily Maverick’s source, who was at the scene, police believe Hillary was murdered at the guesthouse before her body was driven out to be dumped along Sabie Road. Mpumalanga Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela visited the Gardee home just before 11pm on Friday to deliver the news to the family. Addressing the media outside the family home, Manamela said a suspect aged between 30 and 40 years had been arrested, and more arrests were expected soon.

Identity

“The suspect will appear in court on Monday and I’m sure everyone who has an interest in his identity will find out,” said Manamela. The SA EFF yesterday issued a statement welcoming the arrest of three suspect in the Hillary case. The party stated that considering that the first suspect was held while fleeing and in hiding, the party and the family of the deceased was considering that the suspects must be denied bail, as they were collectively undeniable flight risk. EFF Swaziland President Nombulelo Motsa said they were still shocked by the manner in which Hillary was killed.

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