ANC Confirms 1st Suspect in Hillary Gardee Murder is an Employee of Chief Whip's Office in Mpumalanga

• The ANC in Mpumalanga says one of the suspects in Hillary Gardee's murder is an employee of the political organisation
• The party says the arrest of the staff member was confirmed over the weekend and they plan to take disciplinary measures
• South Africans are wondering what the motive behind the murder of the 28-year-old woman could be

MBOMBELA - The African National Congress in Mpumalanga has confirmed that one of the men who were arrested in connection to the murder of 28-year-old Hillary Gardee is employed by the party in the province.

Gardee was the daughter of Economic Freedom Fighter former secretary-general Goldrich Gardee and her body was found a few days after she went missing at a shopping mall in Mbombela.

Speaking on NewzroomAfrika, ANC chief whip in Mpumalanga, Fidel Mlombo stated that one of the men expected to appear at the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Monday, 9 May is in fact an employee in his office.

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"Yes, it is true that one of the suspects who will appear in court today for a bail hearing is an employee of the office of the chief whip in the Mpumalanga provincial legislature," said Mlombo.

Mlombo stated they were informed that the staff member was arrested. The office of the chief whip then launched its own investigation to determine the validity of the news about his arrest. Mlombo stated that the suspect called him and confirmed his arrest.

The chief whip says the ANC has started the internal process against the individual as he is facing serious criminal allegations. The ANC wants to hold a hearing with the staff member to determine the course of action in terms of disciplinary actions.

EFF welcome the arrest of 3 suspects in Hillary Gardee's murder

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The EFF has been supporting the Gardee family since Hillary went missing and the party says they have welcomed the arrests of the suspects and will continue to allow the police to do their job, reports TimesLIVE.

The party also stated they would also help the police by providing them with resources that will enhance their investigation.

South Africans react to an ANC member being arrested for Hillary Gardee's murder

@MatlipaGP said:

"I wish all South Africans were Gardees. Everything about them would be prioritised and treated like the citizens in a true sense. Rest in peace, young lady."

@ImVeeMk said:

"What was the motive for the murder?"

@BlackCock2022 said:

"Destabilise the EFF, confuse them by killing their kids. ANC is home of criminals."

@CliffSmith3 said:

"Yawn... ANC cadre out and about murdering people... come on people.... they murder each other all the time.... why are we even pretending to be shocked?"

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3 Men accused of killing Hillary Gardee set to appear in court

Briefly News previously reported that Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters have gathered outside the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court ahead of the appearance of three men accused of murdering Hillary Gardee on Monday 9 May.

The EFF plans to monitor the court proceedings carefully after the three men were arrested over the weekend on murder charges. The accused were arrested in different locations and Gardee’s killing is believed to have been political.

The 28-year-old was the daughter of former EFF Secretary-General Godrich Gardee and was laid to rest on Saturday 7 May.

Source: Briefly News