Gardee Family Pushes For Expanded Probe As Police Capture Claims Rock SAPS

The murder of Hillary Gardee has long been one of South Africa’s most haunting cases. Now, nearly two years later, her family is once again knocking on the doors of power, calling for deeper answers as new allegations shake the country’s policing system.

At the centre of this renewed push is a direct appeal to Cyril Ramaphosa, urging him to widen the scope of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to include explosive claims of police interference.

Calls For A Stronger Investigation

Lawyers representing the Gardee family have formally written to the president, asking him to use his executive authority to ensure a full and unhindered investigation into allegations made by suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner Daphney Manamela.

Her claims, made during a recent media briefing, paint a troubling picture. According to Manamela, elements within the police service are not just failing to investigate crime properly but may be actively interfering in cases involving political killings, illegal mining, extortion and even human trafficking.

For the Gardee family, this is not abstract. They believe these allegations could be directly linked to how Hillary’s case was handled.

Their legal team has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the investigation into her murder, warning that alleged interference, obstruction of justice and possible criminal conduct by senior officers cannot be ignored.

Allegations Of Interference And Obstruction

The family claims there were deliberate attempts to derail the investigation. According to their lawyers, the case may have been undermined, delayed or even pushed towards premature closure despite the presence of incriminating evidence.

This is why they are now pushing for key figures to be called before the commission. They want Manamela to testify under oath and present her evidence, along with several senior police officials who have been implicated.

There is also a demand for full transparency, including access to the original investigation docket and forensic reports tied to the case.

A Case That Still Haunts South Africa

Hillary Gardee’s disappearance in April 2022 shocked the nation. She went missing near a busy taxi rank in Nelspruit, just metres from a police station, before her body was discovered days later in a timber plantation outside Mbombela.

The case quickly drew national attention, not only because of the brutality involved but also due to her connection to prominent political figure Godrich Gardee.

While arrests were made, the investigation has been anything but straightforward. One suspect, Rassie Nkune, remains on the run, and there are now claims he may have been assisted by a high-ranking official to evade arrest.

In a further twist, charges against Nkune and several co-accused were provisionally withdrawn in 2023 after a key witness disappeared, raising fresh questions about the strength and handling of the case.

Why This Matters Now

South Africa has seen a growing number of concerns around political killings and organised crime, particularly in provinces like Mpumalanga. Allegations that police structures themselves may be compromised strike at the heart of public trust.

For the Gardee family, this is about more than reopening wounds. It is about ensuring that justice is not quietly buried under bureaucracy or interference.

Their request to expand the commission signals a broader demand for accountability, one that goes beyond a single case and into the integrity of the country’s law enforcement system.

Whether the presidency will act remains to be seen. But for now, the call is clear. The family wants answers, and they want them under oath.

{Source:The Citizen}

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