By Kaya 959 Reporter
Six men accused of murdering Gauteng health official, Babita Deokaran, are due back in court next week for a continuation of their bail application.
Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Hadebe, Sanele Mbele, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
They face charges of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Deokaran, a senior finance official at the Department of Health, was gunned down outside her Mondeor home in August.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Kay Makhubele – at the time – said Deokaran had just dropped her child off at school.
She was parked outside her property. A passenger was wounded and rushed to hospital.
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Legal team slams investigators
The suspects have accused the investigators of failing to investigate the case properly. They say officers are focused on their confessions.
According to their legal representative, Advocate Peter Wilkins, the investigating officer was more interested in taking confessions rather than following objective evidence.
He further questioned the strength of the State’s case against the accused. Wilkins added that police have never found the car pointed out as the getaway vehicle.
Police arrested the suspects in Rosettenville less than a month after the murder.
At the time, police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said various units operationalised information received. Officers conducted a takedown operation at the suspects’ hideouts in Johannesburg.
Muridili said police recovered two firearms and two vehicles during the arrests.
