A high-level multidisciplinary task team swooped on the popular Mbombela guesthouse just after 7pm.
Police have made a breakthrough in the kidnapping and murder case of slain daughter of former EFF Secretary General Gordrich Gardee, Hillary Gardee.
013NEWS can exclusively reveal that the multidisciplinary task team swooped on the Insika Guesthouse in West Acres, Mbombela just after 7pm and raided the house for forensic evidence.
The dramatic breakthrough in the case comes exactly 72 hours after police activated the 72 hours action plan to hunt for the murderer.
Sources told the 013NEWS reporter that the owner known as Philemon, was questioned on his whereabouts on Friday and Saturday last week.
“They questioned him because I think they said his car was involved in the crime, but apparently he wasn’t around Mbombela on those days,” the source said.
According to the source who was at the scene, police believe Hillary Gardee was murdered at the guesthouse before her body was driven out to be dumped along the Sabie Road.
BREAKING: Police make breakthrough in murder case of #HillaryGardee. 013NEWS can exclusively reveal that a multidisciplinary task team raided a well-known guesthouse in West Acres (3 km from Gardee’s home) just after 7pm. Sources say cops believe Hillary was killed here. DVLPNG pic.twitter.com/9AWDrSMarg
— 013NEWS (@my013News) May 6, 2022
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela visited the Gardee home just before 11pm on Friday to deliver the news to the family.
Addressing the media outside the family home Manamela said a suspect aged between 30 and 40 years and cops were bound to make more arrests soon.
WATCH: Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner Lt-General Semakaleng Manamela arrives at the home of former EFF SG @GardeeGodrich. The police are expected to brief the family on the latest developments on the case. DVLPNG pic.twitter.com/n5jwFyTpKc
— 013NEWS (@my013News) May 6, 2022
Family spokesman Sinawo Thambo welcomed the breakthrough by cops “even though it was at such a late hour”.
Manamela would not be drawn into divulging more information about the arrested suspect or those who are of interest to the police investigation.
“The suspect will appear in court on Monday (9 May 2022) and I’m sure everyone who has an interest in his identity will find out then,” said Manamela
(edited by MLM)
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