WATCH: Man arrested in connection with Hillary Gardee’s BRUTAL murder

Mpumalanga police commissioner, Lt-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, told the media on Friday evening that police did make one arrest on Friday, but the investigation is still continuing.

“Up to so far, we managed to arrest a man at Schoemansdal in Nkomazi within the 72-hours that we were given. We believe that we have the right suspect and we are looking forward to making more arrests as the investigation continues”.

The man, aged between 30 and 40 years old, was arrested in Schoemansdal.

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He faces a murder charge, and more charges could be added against him as the investigation proceeds. The man is expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 09 May 2022.

MORE ARRESTS COULD BE MADE SOON

Manamela was confident police had arrested the right person and said that it was possible that more arrests could be made soon.

She was speaking outside the Gardee residence on the eve of Hillary’s funeral.

Hillary will be laid to rest on Saturday in Nelspruit.

According to a statement by the EFF, the funeral for Hillary will be held at the Church on the Hill, Kwamagugu Township in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

HILLARY WILL BE LAID TO REST IN NELSPRUIT

This comes days after she was brutally shot and killed execution-style.

EFF and Gardee family spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the family welcomed the arrest of the suspect in the murder case of Hillary.

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Hillary’s body was found in an area just outside Mbombela, previously known as Nelspruit, in Mpumalanga four days after she was reported missing.

EFF and Gardee Family spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the Gardee family would extend individual invites to the funeral in an attempt to curb the number of mourners.

Earlier this week, the EFF revealed some shocking information about the BRUTAL murder of Hillary.

She was found with bruises on her arms and was hanging on and clutching to pieces of grass, which indicate that at some point, she was alive, and there was resistance.

SHOCKING REVELATIONS ABOUT THE MURDER

Thambo furthermore said this would have been an indication perhaps that she was trying to escape.

It was also revealed that Hillary was shot in the back of the head, execution-style.

Thambo made it clear that they do NOT have much faith in the police service.

“The police level of incompetence can jeopardise the entire case.”

This comes after police removed the body of Hillary from the crime scene without picking that up.

“The forensic team found a bullet at the back of Hillary Gardee’s head, something the police completely missed,” Thambo said.

HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW AT THIS STAGE:

• Hillary was last seen at Nelspruit Plaza Super Spar in the central business district around 17:30 on Friday, 29 April 2022.
• A three-year-old child who was with her at the time had been returned home.
• Hillary was reported missing by her family on Saturday, 30 April 2022.
•  On Monday, a reward of R100 000 was issued by the family for information leading to the location of Hillary.
• On Tuesday morning, the body of Hillary Gardee was found in bushes near Mbombela.

Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli urged anyone with information that may assist police in the investigation — may be people who know who the killer is — can call the Crime Stop number at 08600-10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MySaps app.

“All information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous,” said Mdhluli.