- The body of Hillary Gardee was found near Mbombela.
- Police are now investigating a case of murder after her body was found with wounds to the head.
- Police also confirmed that she was wearing the clothes she was last seen in.
Mpumalanga police are investigating a case of murder after the body of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee's daughter, Hillary, was found near Mbombela.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli told News24 on Tuesday that they were called by some residents on their way to work, informing them they had found the body of a woman.
"Upon their arrival, they found the body of a lady and it has now been identified by her family as Hillary Gardee, who was reported missing," Mdhluli said.
News24 reported that Hillary went missing on Friday, 29 April, after she was last seen at the Nelspruit Plaza Super Spar in the central business district around 17:30.
The 28-year-old was with her three-year-old adopted child. The child was returned home safely.
The circumstances surrounding Hillary's disappearance are not yet known. However, police found her with wounds to her head.
"She was actually still wearing the clothes that were reportedly indicated that she was wearing during her disappearance.
"She had some wounds on her head and police are investigating a murder case now," Mdhluli added.
Hillary, Gardee's firstborn daughter, was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1994.
She has been described as an enthusiastic, kind, and loving individual, and was a student at the University of South Africa studying Information Technology.
In a statement on Tuesday, the EFF said that her loss had brought Gardee "immeasurable devastation as he grapples with the pain of losing a child in such a callous, cruel, and inhumane manner".
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.
All information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
The news about the discovery of Hillary's body was revealed by the EFF via a statement.
"The EFF regrets, with deep sadness, to inform the public about the passing of the daughter of [the] former EFF secretary-general," the statement said on Tuesday morning.
The party also said Hillary had adopted and cared for her surviving daughter.
"She looked after the child as if she were her own, an inspiring act for a woman of such a young age," the party said.
"May this chapter, which has ended in such an unfortunate manner, be instructive to all of us on the scourge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the need to fight against the war on the women of this country," the party said.
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