Former Tshwane mayor Smangaliso Mkhatshwa’s adopted nephew was one of the three men who were arrested in connection with the murder of Hillary Gardee.
Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa was implicated in the killing of 28-year-old Gardee, the daughter of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee.
Hillary was reported missing two weeks ago after she had left home with her three-year-old to go to a local supermarket.
According to Lowvelder, she was reported missing by her family at the Nelspruit police station on Saturday, April 30.
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However, in a tragic turn of events, her body was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the early hours of Tuesday, May 3, off a dirt road in some bushes, a 150 metres from the Sabie/Lydenburg road when some people walking to work spotted her.
In a statement, the Mkhatshwa family expressed shock at the arrest of their adopted son.
“The police contacted the family on a separate matter involving Sipho,” said family spokesperson Siya Nkosi.
“They then informed the family of the arrest.”
According to Nkosi, Mkhatshwa was adopted by the late Victoria Mkhatshwa, elder sister to former Tshwane mayor Smangaliso.
He said the family raised him and contributed to his education.
“There have been prior interventions by traditional leaders, with no success.”
Nkosi said the Mkhatshwa family had confidence in the law enforcement agencies and the country’s legal procedures.
“Mr Gardee is not a stranger to the family. Of paramount importance, for now, is to support the grieving Gardee family.
“The Mkhatshwa family extends its sincere condolences to the Gardees and condemns in the strongest terms the scourge of crime, especially any form of violence against women and children.”
Mkhatshwa, alongside co-accused Philemon Lukhele and Albert Mduduzi Gama, appeared at the Nelspruit magistrate’s court earlier this week on charges of rape, murder, kidnapping, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and conspiracy to commit murder.
Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa is employed as an IDP facilitator at the City of Ekhuruleni’s Department of Strategy and Corporate Planning.
Philemon Lukhele is a chief researcher for the ANC caucus at the Mpumalanga provincial legislature.
Lukhele owns three Insika Guest House in Mbombela. It is believed Gardee was killed at one of Lukhele’s guest houses.
He was a former SRC president at Wits University and a member of the People’s United Democratic Movement.
All three men abandoned their bail applications.
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