GARDEE MURDER: PUDEMO MEMBER FACES RAPE, 5 OTHER CHARGES

MBABANE – The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) member, Philemon Lukhele, is allegedly facing six counts, including rape, along with his other two co-accused persons.   

The trio were arrested in connection with the murder of the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Head of International Relations, Godrich Gardee’s daughter Hillary. Lukhele yesterday appeared in Nelspruit Magistrates Court along with his co-accused, namely Sipho Mkhatshwa and Albert Mduduzi Gama. Hillary Gardee, a 28-year-old IT graduate, was abducted from the Nelspruit Plaza Spar at around 5pm on Friday, April 29, 2022. Passersby found her lifeless body several days later at the edge of a forest on a deserted stretch of the Sabie Road.
According to South African news sites, the other charges faced by the accused persons were conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, rape, murder, illegal possession of firearm and defeating the ends of justice.

Charges

According to eNCA news, more charges were likely to be added to the accused persons’ charges. During court proceedings, Lukhele, speaking through his lawyer, asked to send condolences to the Gardee family, claiming to know the family personally. His condolences message was reportedly rejected by shouting from the public gallery. It was reported that he further stated that he would waive his application for bail to allow investigations to continue. The accused persons reportedly asked for medical attention, claiming to have been tortured while in custody. Lukhele was arrested on Saturday morning while Mkhatshwa and Gama were arrested on Sunday. It was further reported that the matter was postponed to June 9, 2022, while the State continued with investigations. In the meantime, the trio were remanded in custody until the said date and they all reportedly abandoned their bail application.

Speaking to Newzroom Africa, ANC Chief Whip in Mpumalanga, Vincent Mlombo, confirmed that indeed Lukhele was employed in his office. Mlombo said after getting the reports that Lukhele was arrested, they did their own investigations to ascertain if indeed he was arrested. He further stated that his office and organisation was against any form of abuse against women and children. Speaking outside the court, PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya, once again expressed condolences to the Gardee family. He said as PUDEMO leadership, they came to the court in order to hear for themselves as to what really transpired. Makhanya said as PUDEMO, they stood together with the EFF and the Gardee family. He appreciated the EFF leadership that in as much as it was established that one of the accused persons was a member of PUDEMO, the EFF leadership allowed PUDEMO to shed light on how that transpired.

Makhanya said the issue of gender-based violence (GBV) needed to be fought at all levels in South Africa, Eswatini, in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and in Africa as a whole. He said the issue of GBV did not represent what Africans were about. “What we are about as Pan Africanist organisations fighting for socialism, is to see all women and children safe,” Makhanya said. He reaffirmed to the EFF leadership that as PUDEMO, they would do anything possible to make sure that the accused persons and others who might be arrested in connection with the case were brought to justice and allow justice to take its full course. He said judging from the charges read in court, it was possible that it was not the first time such criminal activities took place. He said the two parties would continue supporting each other. He highlighted on the border blockades where the parties participated.

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