By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu has conveyed government’s condolences to the family of former EFF Secretary General and Commissar, Godrich Gardee, on the passing of his daughter, Hillary.
“For [a] start is to really pass our condolences to the family of Gardee and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in general because we know that they will be there for him,” Zulu said when responding to member’s statements during a plenary of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Hillary’s lifeless body was found abandoned outside Nelspruit in Mpumalanga after she went missing on 29 April.
According to a statement by the EFF, the death of the 28-year-old – who was born in Lagos in Nigeria and was Gardee’s first born daughter – has left the family distraught and the collective EFF leadership at a loss for words.
At the time of her death, Gardee was a part-time IT student at the University of South Africa while she ran her own IT business.
Zulu called for South Africans to unite against gender-based violence.
“This for us continues to raise the problem of gender-based violence in particular in violence in South Africa as a whole. But it also calls upon us, men and women, members of Parliament and members of our communities in general to really put aside all forms of political challenges and focus on this problem because whether we like it or not, it is something that shames all of us in general as South Africans.
“It doesn’t point a finger on any political organisation so our plea from the Department of Social Development, [is to] unite against this issue.”
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said they were saddened by the news of Hillary’s the death and called on law enforcement agencies to act swiftly in investigating and prosecuting the matter.
The painful circumstances of her death paints a disturbing picture of violence which is deeply embedded in our communities especially against women and children.
“The ANC will continue to rally society against acts of gender-based violence whenever they occur. We call on the SAPS to fulfil its mandate rapidly and investigate the circumstances around this tragic moment in the Gardee family, to enable an effective and efficient prosecution by the NPA, said Mabe.
Pemmy Majodina, the ANC’s chief whip in Parliament, said they felt the pain for the Gardee family lost their daughter.
She called on law enforcement agencies to find those responsible for this crime and bring them to book.
Majodina said they wanted the authorities to act against those behind her murder.
The DA also paid tribute to Hillary. The party’s deputy chief whip Siviwe Gwarube said losing a child was tragic and they were also mourning the loss of Hillary.
Gwarube said the scourge of gender-based violence continued in the country.
She said Hillary’s killing was a loss to her family and the community.
“Our deepest condolences are extended to the Gardee family on the tragic loss of their daughter. We can never consider ourselves free until the war against women is defeated,” said Gwarube.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa also paid tribute to Hillary, saying her murder “was barbaric”.
“My condolences to her family and friends. May her soul rest in peace. This barbaric behaviour continues in this country,” said Holomisa.
IFP chief whip Narend Singh also paid tribute to the Gardee saying the death of their daughter was tragic.
Meanwhile Mpumalanga police have set up a 72-hour activation plan hours to find the suspects behind the murder of Gardee.
This follows Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Fannie Masemola’s visit to the Gardee family home on Tuesday in Mbombela, previously known as Nelspruit.
Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli on Wednesday morning said police were following all leads, including CCTV cameras, to find suspects.
“The investigation team that has been set up they are going to make sure that they follow every lead and every information and evidence that they have gathered to make sure that they crack the case,” Mdhluli said.
“We are hopeful because throughout the night they have been working had to make sure that before that 72 hours lapses, they’ve got something concrete.
“We believe that within a space of time they will be able to put those responsible [for the murder of Hillary] behind bars.”
Police would not be drawn on speculating on the motive behind Hillary’s killing, but said this would form part of the investigation.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema is expected on Wednesday to visit the Gardee family home to pay his condolences.