By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Hillary Gardee, the daughter of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee, who was found murdered after being reported missing, will be laid to rest on Saturday.
Family spokesperson Sinawo Thambo made the announcement on Thursday at the Gardee residence in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
“The Gardee family wishes to announce this morning that the funeral of the late beloved daughter of the Gardees will be held on Saturday, the 7th of May 2022, at Kamagugu township in Nelspruit, here in Mpumalanga at the Church on the Hill. Confirmations are made, and preparations are in place to lay to rest Hillary Gardee, who was abducted on the 29th of April, “said Thambo.
“As the family, we would like to extend our appreciation, once again, to the general public, the people of South Africa, for the consistent support.
“He said the outpouring of support, including from various political parties, shows that “we are not primary enemies in society, but we are opponents.
On Wednesday, the EFF revealed that Hillary, 28, was shot execution style after a bullet was found lodged at the back of her head.
Hillary was found dead in bushes 45km outside of Mbombela on Tuesday by passers-by who were on their way to work.
She had been missing since Friday after she was last spotted at her local supermarket.
Thambo explained that the family were “working” with authorities on the basis of updates and they did not have any conclusive evidence to point to the culprits behind the murder.
“We are waiting for updates like everyone else. We don’t have new information with regards to who are the primary suspects. We are waiting for the update in that regard,” he said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said “they’re requesting space to investigate this gruesome murder without any disturbances.”
“The investigation on the circumstances of how the victim was murdered is underway with a view to arrest whoever is involved. The police in Mpumalanga are at no stage going to reveal the stages of the investigation to the public but to the relevant family,” he said.