Africa-Press – South-Africa. Mpumalanga police found one of three key witnesses in the trial of four men accused of the murder of Hillary Gardee, just hours after their absence from the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela prompted a judge to withdraw the charges against the men.
The police have vowed to locate the remaining two witnesses who they believe are in hiding for safety reasons.
Gardee, the daughter of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee, was killed in April last year.
Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa, Albert Mduduzi Gama, Philemon Lukhele and Rassie Hlabirwa Nkune are accused of her murder and their trial was set down for four weeks.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) assured the court that it was ready to proceed with the trial.
However, when the case was before court on Wednesday, prosecutor Thobeka Phungula told Judge Takalani Ratshibvumo that the State could not locate the three witnesses.
“[T]his morning, we were informed that they can’t be traced. I’m finding it strange that when we are scheduled to proceed and set aside four weeks, witnesses can’t be found all of a sudden. I find it strange,” Ratshibvumo responded.
The charges were provisionally withdrawn.
On Thursday, however, police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said one of the witnesses was found hours after the case was provisionally withdrawn.
Mohlala said:
“We are a bit disappointed. We were expecting witnesses to be there and the trial to begin. We are adamant that we have arrested the correct suspects. We were expecting conviction and assisting the family in getting closure.
The police claim the other two witnesses have gone into hiding for their safety.
“The last time we saw our witnesses was on 3 March. We couldn’t foresee they would go into hiding. During our consultation, they assured us they would attend court. We are always in contact with the family of the deceased. This was a habitual thing of communicating with the family,” Mohlala said.
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