Hope adored murder-accused son - Vavi

Johannesburg - Murdered TV personality Hope Zinde adored her only son – who has now been arrested in connection with her death, Former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Sunday.

“She adored him so much; she spoke about him all the time,” Vavi told News24.

“She loved her family.”

Zinde’s son – who is in his 20s – was arrested in connection with her murder in Pecanwood.

A large amount of drugs and a 10kg weight covered in blood were recovered from their home on an estate in Hartebeespoort, according to police.

Zinde’s body was found in the boot of her Range Rover.

On Sunday, Vavi said that he could not speculate further on the son’s arrest: “I don’t know with drugs… but even the suggestion that her life could be taken [by him]... This is so bad," he said.

Vavi said both he and his wife were “personally devastated” to hear the news about the former SABC board member’s death.

He said that he had shared a common belief with her to criticise the “shenanigans” that began at the SABC.

Standing up for the truth

“She had internal and insightful knowledge of the SABC crisis,” said Vavi, adding however that her attempts to intervene – including, according to him, going to the ANC headquarters at Luthuli House – were ignored.

“She became a victim of it… She suffered and was punished for standing up to the truth.”

He also said she had been sidelined at Prasa due to her knowledge of problems there.

“Hope was so honest. She loved this country so intensely and wanted to serve the people with all of her life and intellectual capacity. She was a person of integrity.”

Zinde’s body was found on Saturday after a family friend went looking for her.

The family friend allegedly saw Zinde's son peeping through the curtains of their home at an estate.

According to police reports the family friend tried unsuccessfully since Wednesday to make contact with Zinde with the son refusing to open the door.

He only opened the door upon the arrival of the police, who then noticed bloody marks leading from the bathroom to the garage.

Early reports indicate that Zinde might have been dead since Monday.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.