Malema Vows to Find Hillary Gardee's Killers in Latest Kidnap Murder to Shock South Africa
Malema Vowed to Find Hillary Gardee's Killers in Latest Kidnap Murder to Shock South Africa. Photo: Twitter / Julius Malema

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Malema Vows to Find Hillary Gardee’s Killers in Latest Murder to Shock South Africa

EFF Leader Julius Malema has vowed to find Hillary Gardee’s killer or killers, and warned that they will be taught a lesson they will never forget. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has already prioritised the search for whoever murdered the former EFF Secretary General and Commissar’s daughter. Malema said the suspect/s should hope the […]

By SAPeople
04-05-22 16:06
in Eish!
Malema Vows to Find Hillary Gardee's Killers in Latest Kidnap Murder to Shock South Africa
Malema Vowed to Find Hillary Gardee's Killers in Latest Kidnap Murder to Shock South Africa. Photo: Twitter / Julius Malema

EFF Leader Julius Malema has vowed to find Hillary Gardee’s killer or killers, and warned that they will be taught a lesson they will never forget. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has already prioritised the search for whoever murdered the former EFF Secretary General and Commissar’s daughter. Malema said the suspect/s should hope the police arrest them before the EFF find them and “show them the ugly side of the EFF”.

Twenty-eight year old Hillary, the first born daughter of attorney Godrich Gardee, went missing on Friday 29 April. Early yesterday morning, Tuesday 3 May, her body was sadly discovered in bushes off the Lydenburg road in Mpumalanga, by farm workers on their way to work. She had been discarded over 40km from Mbombele (Nelspruit) where she was last seen.

Hillary Gardee missing

Police dispatched to the scene discovered there were “bruises on her head”, and opened a case of murder. An intense 72-hour manhunt for the killer/s has been launched, led by an assembled team of experts. (Anyone with info is urged to call 0800 600 111.) SA Police Minister Bheki Cele, who visited the scene, said SAPS ideally seeks to find the culprit/s within the 72 hours.

South Africans from different political parties have united in their condemnation of the suspected kidnapping and murder, and to offer support to the Gardee family. Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu conveyed the South African government’s condolences to the family and to the EFF.

According to a statement by the EFF, the loss of Hillary – who was born in Lagos in Nigeria – has “left immeasurable devastation, as (Godrich Gardee) grapples with the pain of losing a child in such a callous, cruel and inhumane manner.”

In their heartfelt statement yesterday, the EFF paid tribute to Hillary, saying she “was an enthusiastic, kind and loving individual, who had a passion for Information Technology. 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 three-year-old child, who by the grace of God was spared on the day of Hillary’s abduction. (Her daughter was found alive on Friday evening at Kwa Magugu.) She looked after the child as if she were her own, an inspiring act for a woman of such a young age.”

Hillary’s distraught family had offered a R100,000 reward for information leading to her safe return. She had last been seen alive on Friday (29 April) shopping at Spar Supermarket in Nelspruit. 

Her father, who is now Head of EFF’s International Relations, has retweeted several messages of condolence that have poured in, as well as cries for help from other families whose relatives have gone missing. Former Public Protector, Prof Thuli Madonsela, tweeted: “Words fail to express the sorrow I feel for Godrich Gardee and his family over the senseless murder of his daughter. I hope and pray that time and justice will heal the wounds. May her soul #RIP Heartfelt condolences to all loved ones and friends #RIPHillaryGardee ???”

Malema tweeted: “It is painful ????”

Julius Malema’s message for Hillary Gardee’s killer or killers

Today the EFF Leader visited Gardee’s family home, and sent a strong message to those involved in the “senseless killing of our daughter”.

Malema said the EFF has “committed to the family to find these killers; and we have committed to Bheki Cele as well that he must find them before we find them, because if we find them before him we will not give him any guarantee as to what is going to happen.”

When asked to clarify what he meant, Malema said the EFF is a legal party with a place in Parliament and is made up of “law-abiding citizens… but having said that we’ll find them and we’ll teach them a lesson.”

He said all manner of resources has already been deployed and their intelligence on the ground has indicated that this was an “internal” mission (coming from within SA), and there is no need to look for criminals across the border.

Anyone who touches our children, touches us

He said the EFF is looking closer and “we want to teach them a lesson that they will never forget for the rest of their lives because they took the wrong one this time around. Anyone who touches our children, touches us; and they don’t want to see the ugly side of the EFF. They invited it. And we shall show them that ugly side…”

Malema said at this stage nothing suggests that the murder was politically motivated. He said it appears to be “pure criminality” but the motive has not yet been established.

Malema said he is at the Gardee family home to give the Secretary-General the EFF’s support and to give Hillary a beautiful send-off that is a reflection of the beautiful person she was.

End Gender Based Violence

The EFF statement thanked “the people of South Africa for banding together behind a self-less activist” and added: “May this chapter, which has ended in such an unfortunate manner, be instructive to all of us on the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and the need to fight against the war on the women of this country.”

Minister Zulu also called for South Africans to unite against gender-based violence, and violence in general, which – she said – is such a problem in South Africa as a whole. She said it’s time for everyone – from politicians to ordinary citizens to “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.”

Hillary’s last couple of tweets had been on Friday morning, discussing the month ahead. Tragically that future has been stolen from her.

EFF member Naledi Chirwa tweeted: “Everyday in this country is a reminder that #AmINext was not just a hashtag. May justice be served. Rest in perfect peace, Hillary Gardee. #HerNameIsHillaryGardee ?”

The ANC Parliamentary Caucus issued a statement saying it was mourning the passing of Hillary Gardee. “Losing a child is the most heart-breaking tragedy a parent can go through and leaves a void that cannot be filled. No parent deserves to go through what the family is going through at this point, to see their child’s life ended abruptly in the prime of her youth. To the three year-old who will be left without a mother, the pain is unbearable to contemplate.

“To the Gardee family, friends and relatives, the ANC Caucus extends its heartfelt condolences on the tragic passing of Hillary at a time when our country is fighting the scourge of Gender–based violence. We call on anyone with any information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrator/s of this dastardly barbaric act to report such information to the police.”

Simon Grindrod tweeted: “Godrich Gardee sent me a kind DM of comfort & sympathy when my dear wife passed. Today, I feel for him & his family. Race, politics aside – South Africans stand together in times of deep sorrow. ??”

Julius Malema thanked all political parties for sending their condolences to the family.

Hillary Gardee sadly joins South Africa’s List of Fallen Angels, women murdered by men in SA. 

Tags: Godrich Gardee Hillary Gardee kidnapping murder SA crime