A fourth suspect, believed to be a serial killer by the Mpumalanga police, has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of Hillary Gardee.
The arrest was made by a multidisplinary team of both Gauteng and Mpumalanga police in Springs, Gauteng, on Thursday August 11.
Hillary (28), the daughter of the former EFF secretary general and attorney, Godrich Gardee, was abducted from the Mbombela CBD on April 29 and was found dead with a bullet wound in her head in some bushes near the Sabie/Lydenburg Road on May 3.
The first suspect to be arrested was Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa (39), who was arrested on May 6 in Schoemansdal, Nkomazi.
Philemon Lukhele (47), the communications manager of the Office of the ANC Chief Whip of the Mpumalanga Legislature, and Albert “Khabzela” Gama (52) were arrested shortly after.
The Mpumalanga police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, said in an interview with eNCA’s Dan Moyane on DStv’s channel 403 that the fourth suspect is alleged to be a serial killer.
A Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, told to Lowvelder this morning, August 13, that a 39-year-old man was arrested in KwaThema near Springs, and was found in possession of a firearm with the serial number filed off.
“He is linked to three other murder cases of women in the Mpumalanga area. He is expected to appear in court soon,” said Mohlala.
Manamela said in her interview with eNCA that the man allegedly murdered a girlfriend in eMalahleni last weekend, August 6, and allegedly murdered another girlfriend of his and her sister in KaNyamazane in July.
Meanwhile, the EFF released a statement welcoming this latest arrest in the case.
“The arrest will help bring peace to the Gardee family, and is a testament that Hillary’s spirit is not resting, and that she is fighting to ensure that those who took her life face the necessary consequences,” said the statement.
“The EFF commends the law enforcement agencies that have been able to track and apprehend this suspect, and calls on them to treat all matters of gender-based violence with the same urgency.
“The EFF will continue to provide support to the Gardee family and we will remain an anchor and pillar of strength as they continue to grapple with the loss of their daughter,” it said.
