By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African Police Service (SAPS) have arrested a fourth suspect in the murder case of Hillary Gardee.
Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela says the suspect was arrested in KwaThema in Gauteng on Thursday night.
Manamela described the suspect as a possible serial killer as he’s been linked to the murders of three other women.
Three other suspects have already appeared in court in connection with the murder.
Meanwhile Mpumalanga’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), advocate Nkebe Kanyane, on Thursday said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is not under any political pressure to prosecute the Gardee murder case.
Kanyane, briefing the media on several matters in her office, assured the public the NPA would prosecute the matter without any influence.
She described advocate Ntsika Mpolweni, who is handling the matter, as a seasoned prosecutor.
“We will prosecute the matter with vigour. We have put our best foot forward in prosecuting the case. In the end, the court will evaluate the case (and come to a decision).
“We finalised the bail application by Sipho Mkhatshwa last week. The Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court denied him bail. We are busy with the bail application brought by Philemon Lukhele and Albert Gama,” said Kanyane.
The State is opposing bail against Lukhele and Gama.
Mkhatshwa, 39, Lukhele, 47, and Gama, 52, are facing charges of murder, rape, kidnapping, defeating the ends of justice, and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.