Police vow to find Hillary Gardee’s killer
MPUMALANGA police have vowed not to leave any stone unturned when investigating the murder of Hillary Gardee, who had been missing since Friday.
Gardee, the daughter of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee, was confirmed dead yesterday.
Gardee’s body was found outside Mbombela (Nelspruit) in Mpumalanga, after she had gone missing on Friday.
On Monday the EFF, civil organisations like #NotInMyName, politicians and concerned citizens shared and circulated her picture as a missing person. There was also a reward of about R100000 for anyone who had information on her whereabouts.
It is believed that Gardee was abducted as she was last seen at a retail store purchasing groceries while with a three-year-old child. The child was later found unharmed.
“This heartbreaking news has left the Gardee family distraught, and the collective leadership of the EFF at a loss for words,” said EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo in a media statement.
Gardee, aged 28, was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1994.
“She was the first-born daughter of Commissar Godrich Gardee, and her loss has left immeasurable devastation, as he grapples with the pain of losing a child in such a callous, cruel and inhumane manner.”
Thambo said Gardee was an enthusiastic, kind and loving individual, who had a passion for information technology.
She was a student at Unisa, studying IT part-time, while running her own IT business.
“Her kindness and generosity was most evident in her commitment to adopt and care for a three-year-old child, who by the grace of God was spared on the day of Gardee’s abduction.
“She looked after the child as if she were her own, an inspiring act for a woman of such a young age,” Thambo said.
“We send our deepest condolences and sympathies to Commissar Gardee, the Gardee family and those who were close to Hillary.
“We mourn with the Gardee family, and will provide a helping hand to ensure that her memory is preserved and she goes to her final resting place with dignity,” he said.
He said the family at this time were still reeling from the terrible news of the loss of their child, and were not in a position to speak to the media or the public.
“We appreciate all the efforts of those in the public sphere who formed part of the efforts to find Gardee. We thank the people of South Africa for banding together behind a selfless activist, and we thank all members of the EFF for rallying behind Gardee, who has dedicated his life to the liberation of the people.
“May this chapter, which has ended in such an unfortunate manner, be instructive to all of us on the scourge of gender-based violence and the need to fight against the war on the women of this country.
“We plead for patience, sincerity and compassion in this difficult time. May the soul of Hillary Gardee rest in perfect, peaceful and eternal peace,” Thambo said.
EFF leader Julius Malema expressed shock after learning about Gardee’s passing. “They killed her. May her soul rest in perfect permanent peace. We will find them,” he said.
The EFF said, after consultation with the family, it had been resolved that all enquiries regarding her passing be forwarded to the EFF communications office.
The ANC said the painful circumstances of Gardee’s death painted a disturbing picture of violence which was deeply embedded in communities, especially against women and children.
“The ANC will continue to rally society against acts of gender-based violence whenever they occur.
“We call on the South African Police Service to fulfil its mandate rapidly and investigate the circumstances around this tragic moment in the Gardee family, to enable an effective and efficient prosecution by the National Prosecuting Authority,” said ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe.
Last month, lawyer Godrich Gardee of Gardee Godrich Attorneys announced a class-action suit in which more than 6000 people will be taking action against various South African banks on the basis of racial discrimination.
Gardee, who is representing thousands of people who have allegedly suffered discrimination by the banks in a class-action suit, was commenting on the Equality Court matter between Sekunjalo and Nedbank, which was argued in Cape Town late last month.
His comment was in reaction to Nedbank’s legal counsel, advocate Alfred Cockrell SC, who asked Judge Mokgoatji Dolama to dismiss Sekunjalo’s application for interim relief because the Equality Court did not have jurisdiction over the matter. Dr Iqbal Survé and Sekunjalo are seeking a court interdict preventing Nedbank from closing its accounts until the matter is properly ventilated in a court of law. |