Seven people arrested for the murder of top Gauteng health official, Babita Deokaran – a key witness in corruption investigations – are expected to appear in court soon, News24 reported.
Police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said the group was arrested in a joint operation by the SAPS Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, SAPS Johannesburg K9, Johannesburg East Crime Intelligence, Fidelity Specialised Services and Community Active Protection late on Thursday evening at various hideouts.
The suspects face murder charges, but Muridili said further charges could be brought against them.
Police recovered two firearms and two vehicles.
Deokaran was seriously wounded when she was fired on in her car outside her home on Monday, shortly after dropping her daughter off at school. She died in hospital.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) confirmed that she was a witness in the R300 million protective personal equipment (PPE) tender fraud investigation in the Gauteng Department of Health.
On Thursday, News24 quoted Gauteng Premier David Makhura as saying that there was a link between the murder of Deokaran and those facing charges of PPE tender fraud.
Makhura said: ‘Until the killers of Babita and those who sent them – I am convinced that the person who pulled the trigger is not the only source of this killing – until all of them are brought to book, it doesn’t matter what I say. It doesn’t matter what we do, and that’s also the challenge we face with the Zondo commission in our country.’