All Article Properties:
{
"access_control": false,
"status": "publish",
"objectType": "Article",
"id": "1023369",
"signature": "Article:1023369",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-30-six-suspects-accused-of-murdering-whistle-blower-babita-deokaran-appear-in-court/",
"shorturl": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/1023369",
"slug": "six-suspects-accused-of-murdering-whistle-blower-babita-deokaran-appear-in-court",
"contentType": {
"id": "1",
"name": "Article",
"slug": "article"
},
"views": 0,
"comments": 8,
"preview_limit": null,
"excludedFromGoogleSearchEngine": 0,
"title": "Six suspects accused of murdering whistle-blower Babita Deokaran appear in court",
"firstPublished": "2021-08-30 15:31:14",
"lastUpdate": "2021-09-03 15:28:47",
"categories": [
{
"id": "29",
"name": "South Africa",
"signature": "Category:29",
"slug": "south-africa",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/south-africa/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
}
],
"content_length": 3631,
"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Central Magistrate's Court </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on charges relating to the murder of </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gauteng health department senior financial official Babita Deokaran. Investigators believe her death was a targeted hit linked to her </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-24-whistle-blower-slain-after-dropping-her-child-at-school-siu-confirms-babita-deokaran-was-a-witness-in-the-r332m-ppe-scandal/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">involvement as a witness in a R332-million PPE scandal</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The suspects were charged with</span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of unlicenced firearms and ammunition. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The six were remanded in custody, pending an investigation for a formal bail application, for which they will be back in court on 13 September.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ndivhuwo Mulamu, communication officer at the Hawks, told the media that none of the suspects who appeared in court was a health department official, and that they are from KwaZulu-Natal. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1023359\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7m.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1575\" /> The six accused of the murder of Babita Deokaran wait for their case to called in the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The suspects, in order of appearance, are: Phakamani Hadebe; ZithaHadebe; Nhlangano Ndlovu; Sanele Mbele; Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswe Dladla.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phindi Mjonondwane, regional communication manager for the National Prosecuting Authority, explained that the suspects are also charged with attempted murder because, according to the docket, Deokaran was with another person in the vehicle during the incident.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The person who was with the deceased during the shootout is at this point safe and she was not injured. However, hence we adding the conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder on the charge.”</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-27-breakthrough-seven-suspects-arrested-after-assassination-of-key-gauteng-corruption-witness-babita-deokaran/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven suspects were arrested last Friday</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (27 August) in relation to the murder</span><b>, </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but only six appeared in court on Monday.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See also previous story here: </span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-29-seven-suspects-to-appear-in-court-on-monday-in-connection-with-murder-of-whistle-blower-babita-deokaran/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven suspects to appear in court on Monday in connection with murder of whistle-blower Babita Deokaran</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1023349\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7e.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1575\" /> Accused Siphiwe Mazibuko covers his face in the dock of the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mjonondwane told the media that the seventh suspect that was arrested could not be placed on the roll due to a lack of evidence, stating, “he was not charged at all, because currently we don’t have any evidence that suggests that he is linked to the alleged crime.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mulamu added that the reason the seventh suspect was originally arrested was due to his connection with another suspect, “when we followed up on information that we received during our operation last week, the seventh suspect was with one of the suspects who is linked to the crime committed. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1023342\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1575\" /> The accused after the case was postponed to 13 September 2021. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“So he was brought in for questioning. However, through the information that we collectively received on our investigation, he was not linked to any crime that was committed. However, a case against him at this moment is provisionally being drawn, pending investigation.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1023350\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7f.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1575\" /> The six accused of the murder of Babita Deokaran stand in the dock of the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court, from left: Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Hadebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla.<br />(Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mulamu confirmed that more arrests are imminent, saying: “We still have outstanding suspects that we are looking into; there’s intelligence that we are working with and we are following up on that information. And we can actually confirm that more arrests will be imminent.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later, Mulamu added: “We are very much sure that the [investigation team] out there, working with intelligence and other law enforcement who are helping to trace all the suspects who are linked to this crime, will [bring them] to book.” </span><b>DM</b>",
"teaser": "Six suspects accused of murdering whistle-blower Babita Deokaran appear in court",
"externalUrl": "",
"sponsor": null,
"authors": [
{
"id": "255159",
"name": "Julia Evans",
"image": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Julia-Evans.jpg",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/author/juliadailymaverick-co-za/",
"editorialName": "juliadailymaverick-co-za",
"department": "",
"name_latin": ""
}
],
"description": "",
"keywords": [
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "100599",
"name": "gauteng department of health",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/gauteng-department-of-health/",
"slug": "gauteng-department-of-health",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "gauteng department of health",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "108780",
"name": "Special Investigating Unit (SIU)",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/special-investigating-unit-siu/",
"slug": "special-investigating-unit-siu",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Special Investigating Unit (SIU)",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "300798",
"name": "PPE corruption",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/ppe-corruption/",
"slug": "ppe-corruption",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "PPE corruption",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "357674",
"name": "Babita Deokaran",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/babita-deokaran/",
"slug": "babita-deokaran",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Babita Deokaran",
"translations": null
}
}
],
"short_summary": null,
"source": null,
"related": [],
"options": [],
"attachments": [
{
"id": "80013",
"name": "The six accused of the murder of Babita Deokaran from left to right, Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Hadebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla stand in the dock of the Johannesburg Magistrates Court. \nPhoto / Shiraaz Mohamed.",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Central Magistrate's Court </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on charges relating to the murder of </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gauteng health department senior financial official Babita Deokaran. Investigators believe her death was a targeted hit linked to her </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-24-whistle-blower-slain-after-dropping-her-child-at-school-siu-confirms-babita-deokaran-was-a-witness-in-the-r332m-ppe-scandal/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">involvement as a witness in a R332-million PPE scandal</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The suspects were charged with</span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of unlicenced firearms and ammunition. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The six were remanded in custody, pending an investigation for a formal bail application, for which they will be back in court on 13 September.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ndivhuwo Mulamu, communication officer at the Hawks, told the media that none of the suspects who appeared in court was a health department official, and that they are from KwaZulu-Natal. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1023359\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2362\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1023359\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7m.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1575\" /> The six accused of the murder of Babita Deokaran wait for their case to called in the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The suspects, in order of appearance, are: Phakamani Hadebe; ZithaHadebe; Nhlangano Ndlovu; Sanele Mbele; Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswe Dladla.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phindi Mjonondwane, regional communication manager for the National Prosecuting Authority, explained that the suspects are also charged with attempted murder because, according to the docket, Deokaran was with another person in the vehicle during the incident.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The person who was with the deceased during the shootout is at this point safe and she was not injured. However, hence we adding the conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder on the charge.”</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-27-breakthrough-seven-suspects-arrested-after-assassination-of-key-gauteng-corruption-witness-babita-deokaran/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven suspects were arrested last Friday</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (27 August) in relation to the murder</span><b>, </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but only six appeared in court on Monday.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See also previous story here: </span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-29-seven-suspects-to-appear-in-court-on-monday-in-connection-with-murder-of-whistle-blower-babita-deokaran/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven suspects to appear in court on Monday in connection with murder of whistle-blower Babita Deokaran</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1023349\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2362\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1023349\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7e.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1575\" /> Accused Siphiwe Mazibuko covers his face in the dock of the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mjonondwane told the media that the seventh suspect that was arrested could not be placed on the roll due to a lack of evidence, stating, “he was not charged at all, because currently we don’t have any evidence that suggests that he is linked to the alleged crime.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mulamu added that the reason the seventh suspect was originally arrested was due to his connection with another suspect, “when we followed up on information that we received during our operation last week, the seventh suspect was with one of the suspects who is linked to the crime committed. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1023342\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2362\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1023342\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1575\" /> The accused after the case was postponed to 13 September 2021. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“So he was brought in for questioning. However, through the information that we collectively received on our investigation, he was not linked to any crime that was committed. However, a case against him at this moment is provisionally being drawn, pending investigation.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1023350\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2362\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1023350\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7f.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1575\" /> The six accused of the murder of Babita Deokaran stand in the dock of the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court, from left: Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Hadebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla.<br />(Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mulamu confirmed that more arrests are imminent, saying: “We still have outstanding suspects that we are looking into; there’s intelligence that we are working with and we are following up on that information. And we can actually confirm that more arrests will be imminent.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later, Mulamu added: “We are very much sure that the [investigation team] out there, working with intelligence and other law enforcement who are helping to trace all the suspects who are linked to this crime, will [bring them] to book.” </span><b>DM</b>",
"focal": "50% 50%",
"width": 0,
"height": 0,
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg",
"transforms": [
{
"x": "200",
"y": "100",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/aFTSm4Ma0xYBjCUS7psi5mkg2NQ=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg"
},
{
"x": "450",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/piyLPwngyFqo-Zi83lSqzbUFU6c=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg"
},
{
"x": "800",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/E_IqvXWDEfG8yXsI6UVJ0h8VwOE=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1200",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/jVGj68X0Un9EROFfDGlWC2NrhN4=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1600",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/ABoOU42zeekgWpJr_w4dFFDCSYU=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg"
}
],
"url_thumbnail": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/aFTSm4Ma0xYBjCUS7psi5mkg2NQ=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg",
"url_medium": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/piyLPwngyFqo-Zi83lSqzbUFU6c=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg",
"url_large": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/E_IqvXWDEfG8yXsI6UVJ0h8VwOE=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg",
"url_xl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/jVGj68X0Un9EROFfDGlWC2NrhN4=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg",
"url_xxl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/ABoOU42zeekgWpJr_w4dFFDCSYU=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-deokaran-accused7k.jpg",
"type": "image"
}
],
"summary": "Monday, 30 August, marks seven days since Babita Deokaran was murdered outside her home, with six suspects linked to her murder making their first court appearance. More arrests are expected. ",
"template_type": null,
"dm_custom_section_label": null,
"elements": [],
"seo": {
"search_title": "Six suspects accused of murdering whistle-blower Babita Deokaran appear in court",
"search_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Central Magistrate's Court </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on charges relating to the murder of </span><span style=\"fon",
"social_title": "Six suspects accused of murdering whistle-blower Babita Deokaran appear in court",
"social_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Central Magistrate's Court </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on charges relating to the murder of </span><span style=\"fon",
"social_image": ""
},
"cached": true,
"access_allowed": true
} 
The six accused of the murder of Babita Deokaran wait for their case to called in the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)
Accused Siphiwe Mazibuko covers his face in the dock of the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)
The accused after the case was postponed to 13 September 2021. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)
The six accused of the murder of Babita Deokaran stand in the dock of the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court, from left: Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Hadebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla.