Mpumalanga police have arrested a man in Schoemansdal (KaMatsamo) in connection with the murder of 28-year-old Hillary Gardee.
“We believe that we have the right suspect and we are looking forward to making more arrests as the investigation continues,” said SA Police Service Provincial Commissioner in Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela early on Saturday morning.
Hillary – the daughter of former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) secretary general Godrich Gardee – was reported missing a week ago and was found dead on Tuesday with a bullet wound to the head.
“Up to so far, we managed to arrest one male suspect at Schoemansdal in Nkomazi within the 72-hours that we were given,” said Lieutenant General Manamela.
“On Friday, 6 May 2022, they (the police investigating team) sniffed out a 39-year-old man from his hiding place in Schoemansdal.”
General Manamela said the team investigating the murder was supported by the Divisional Commissioner: Detectives, Lieutenant General Senthumule.
“The team showed dedication and worked relentlessly where they spent sleepless nights for days without being distracted from their goal which was to crack the murder case,” said General Manamela.
The arrested murder suspect is expected to appear before the Nelspruit (Mbombela) Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 9 May 2022.
Meanwhile the EFF said it has hired its own investigators to probe the murder.
