The Mpumalanga police have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Hillary Gardee, the daughter of former EFF secretary general Godrich Gardee.
Speaking outside the Gardee family house on Friday night, provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela said a man believed to be in his 30's was arrested in Schoemansdal outside Malalane on Friday.
"So far we have made one arrest today [Friday] and the investigation is still continuing. We spent sleepless nights and a whole team [of investigators] was established including experts...we are cracking this case and are doing what is right.
"At the present moment we are not in a position to talk about the suspect, but we will talk more as the suspect appears in court on Monday. The suspect was arrested not in Nelspruit, he was arrested in Schoemansdal." said Manamela.
She said the police have verified all the information they had gathered on the suspect and they believe that they have apprehended the right person. She could not confirm or deny if the man is known to the Gardees but said they were looking at making more arrests.
Sowetan understands that the man was arrested at a guesthouse owned by a government employee who is also a politician. Manamela confirmed the raid but did not want to give details on who owns the property in West Acres.
The 28-year-old's body was found by timber farm workers on Tuesday along the road just outside Mbombela. She had gone missing on Friday last week following her abduction outside a plaza while she was with her adopted daughter, 3. Her alleged killers or killers later dropped off the child close to where Gardee lived in KaMagugu.
Manamela said although the body was found at the timber plantation they are still to find out where the murder actually took place.
Family spokesperson Sinawo Tambo said the family they are welcomes the arrest.
