The Hawks say more arrests are imminent in the Babita Deokaran murder case. Six people have appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, where their case was postponed to the 13th of September.
The 53-year-old was a senior official at the Gauteng Health Department. She was gunned down last week Monday, outside her home in Winchester Hills, south of Johannesburg, shortly after dropping off her daughter at school.
The six men made a brief appearance before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. Their case has been postponed for a formal bail application.
Earlier reports indicated that seven suspects were arrested.
NPA Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane says, “The seventh suspect that was arrested could not be placed on the roll due to the fact that there was no evidence of their involvement so far. Charges are not provisionally withdrawn. He was not charged at all because currently, we do not have evidence that suggests that he is linked to the alleged crime.”
The six face charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Hawks Spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mulamu says the deceased was not alone in her vehicle.
“The person who was with the deceased during the shootout is safe. And she was not injured, hence we are adding conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder to that charge,” says Mulamu.
Deokaran was a key witness in the Special Investigating Unit’s probe into the PPE tender fraud at Gauteng’s health department, totaling R300 million .
Mulamu says they will make more arrests soon, “We still have outstanding suspects that we are looking into. There is intelligence that we are working with and we are following up on information. We can actually confirm that more will be eminent. Non of the suspects who appeared in court this morning are any of the DOH officials.”
All six suspects will remain in custody until their next court appearance on the 13th of September.
More arrests expected in connection with her murder:
