Kamogelo Olaitan
Three suspects have been arrested and charged with the murder of Hillary Gardee.
A 39-year-old man was arrested on Friday in Nkomazi. It was reported that he was due to get married on Saturday.
Two other suspects were arrested in Mbombela on Saturday.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela said through their investigation they were able to come out with information that made them fully believe that they had the right suspects.
“As earlier indicated, more suspects may be arrested as the intensive investigation proceeds into the murder,” Manamela said.
The arrests came after police minister Bheki Cele promised to find Hillary’s killers within 72 hours.
Hillary went missing on 29 April after she left her home in Kamagugu. Her body was found four days later 40 km from her home. She was shot in the head.
She was the daughter of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee. The 28-year-old Hillary was laid to rest on Saturday in Mbombela.
Godrich Gardee, who now practices as an attorney, recorded a video tribute that was screened at his daughter’s funeral.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would one day have to make funeral arrangements for her. We birth children so they can bury us and not to bury them,” Gardee said in the video.
Speaking at the funeral, Cele indicated that there were political and economic motives behind the murder.
