By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Hillary Indira Gardee, the daughter of former EFF secretary-general and attorney Godrich Gardee, has been found dead.
The body of the 28-year-old woman was found abandoned outside Mbombela in Mpumalanga after she went missing last week.
In a statement released by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the party said her family is distraught at the news.
“The EFF regrets, with deep sadness, to inform the public about the passing of the daughter of [the] former EFF secretary-general,” the EFF said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
The 28-year-old went missing on Friday after she was last seen at Nelspruit Plaza Super Spar in the central business district on Friday at around 17:30.
Hillary, aged 28, was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1994.
“She was the first-born daughter of Commissar Godrich Gardee and her loss has left immeasurable devastation, as he grapples with the pain of losing a child in such a callous, cruel and inhumane manner. Hillary was an enthusiastic, kind and loving individual, who had a passion for information technology, said the EFF”
“She was a student at the University of South Africa, studying IT part-time while running her own IT business. Her kindness and generosity was most evident in her commitment to adopt and care for a 3-year old child, who by the grace of God was spared on the day of Hillary’s abduction. She looked after the child as if she were her own, an inspiring act for a woman of such a young age.”
Police Spokesperson Col Donald Mdhluli said a murder case has been opened.
“Police in Mbombela were called by some members of the community that were on their way to work informing them about the body of a woman. Upon arrival they found the body of a lady and she has now been identified by her family, as Hillary Gardee who was reported missing. She was still wearing the clothes that were reportedly indicated that she was wearing during her disappearance, and she had some wounds on her head. Police are investigating a murder case,” he said.
Mdhluli said anyone with information can call crime stop on 08600 10111.