"Mama was fighting." Those are the words of the three-year-old girl child who was in the company of Hillary Gardee when she was abducted and later found dead.
The 28-year-old's lifeless body was discovered on Tuesday morning by community members who were on their way to work. Gardee's body was found dumped about 40 kilometers outside Mbombela at a timber plantation near Rhenosterhoek on the Lydenburg and Sabie road in Mpumalanga.
Gardee who is the daughter of former EFF secretary-general, Godrich Gardee and now lawyer went missing on 29 April. She was last seen at a shopping complex in Mbombela with the three-year-old girl.
According to EFF spokesman, Sinawo Tambo, the family realized through the three-year-old girl that there was something amiss about Gardee's disappearance as they were together.
[SCENE OF CRIME] Minister Cele and the @SAPoliceService management are now receiving a report from the investigating team at the crime scene where the body of Hillary Gardee was found at the Ehlanzeni district in the Sabie area just outside Nelspruit. pic.twitter.com/BU1CjI2k0V
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) May 3, 2022
"When she was found wandering the streets of KaMagugu, she was the one that was saying Mommy was fighting, she gave us an indication that Hillary was held against her will somehow, and that there was some form of violent interaction with her on her disappearance," he said.
On Tuesday afternoon (03 May), police minister, Bheki Cele accompanied by the national commissioner, deputy national Commissioner and provincial Commissioner visited the scene of the crime where Gardee was found.
Tambo said Cele keeps the family abreast in terms of the investigation going forward regarding the tragic murder of Hillary.
[MOTIVE] Minister Cele says the Gardee family has been assured that @SAPoliceService are exploring all possible motives which will fall part of investigations. pic.twitter.com/izbvSljIiJ
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) May 3, 2022
"The family has expressed their appreciation and the cooperation from the provincial team, of the South African Police Service provincially. The minister has shared reassuring words that this matter will be brought to book outside of speculation and in any other way, that may be the motive for the tragic murder of Gardee.
This must be instructed to all of us that the scourge of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa is something that we need to be addressed in a sense of urgency, we hope that what was done for Hillary can be done for other families as well," he said.
Meanwhile, Cele has instituted a 72-hour activation plan in response to the killing of Gardee. He said it was not their job to come and cry however comforting the family was fine but they expect more than that.
[WATCH] Minister Cele reveals that the @SAPoliceService have activated a 72 hour activation plan to find the killer or killers of Hillary Gardee. pic.twitter.com/mIjUxdWZse
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) May 3, 2022
"We just need to do what they are expecting us to do, we usually bring those people to the light so that anybody can see. We gave ourselves 72-hours target, we want to give ourselves less than that this time. The killer will give us a motive, otherwise we will be speculating now, we need to get the person who committed the murder and they need to tell us why he did it. We are looking for any person who has committed the crime and no matter who that person is, surely that person will help us to know what happened," he said.
EFF leader, Julius Malema is expected to visit the family on Wednesday, 04 May.
