Call for whistle-blower protection as murder suspects in court

CALLS have been made for whistle-blowers to be protected as the suspects accused of the murder of former Gauteng Health top official Babita Deokaran appeared in court yesterday.

The six men made a brief appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court yesterday in connection with the murder of Deokaran – a former chief director for financial accounting in the Department of Gauteng Health.

Deokaran was shot and killed outside her Winchester Hills home on August 23, in what is believed to have been a well-orchestrated hit.

She had just dropped off her child at school and was travelling back along with a female friend when her alleged killers pumped multiple bullets into her body.

At the time of her death, Deokaran was one of the key witnesses of the Special Investigating Unit investigation into more than R300 million personal protective equipment tender fraud in Gauteng Health.

Civil society organisations including Outa and Defend our Democracy, who were at the court, called on the government to protect whistle-blowers and to act swiftly against those who commit fraud and corruption.

ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba also attended the court appearance.

Outside court, Mashaba said he and his party members wanted to express their views that whistle-blowers needed the support of the State and community.

“We are here to say we do not want to live in a country of total lawlessness. If we are all not going to stand up against these crimes, then all of us are going to go,” Mashaba said.

Mashaba along with his party's mayoral candidates for Tshwane and eThekwini Abel Tau and Dr Makhosi Khoza attended the brief court appearance of the six men.

The men were due to apply for bail yesterday but Covid-19 regulations in the prisons had made it difficult for them to consult fully with their legal counsel to prepare for the application.

Shafique Sarlie, legal counsel for the accused – Phakamani Hadebe, Zita Hadebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla asked for a twoweek postponement to allow him enough time to consult with them.

In his application, Sarlie told the court that he had been unable to properly consult with his clients due to Covid-19 restrictions at Johannesburg Prison.

According to Sarlie, lawyers were only allowed to consult with their clients on a Friday between 10am until 2pm.

“These circumstances are worsened by the fact that during consultation, I am separated from my clients through a bullet-proof glass. That has also made it difficult for our interpreters. I was also unable to obtain proper instruction from the clients,” Sarlie said.

Adding to his difficulties, Sarlie said the prosecution provided him an affidavit, opposing the bail application and he needed time to address the matters raised.

“I need to deal comprehensively with all the material issues raised in the investigating officer's affidavit,” Sarlie said.

He asked the court to grant him an opportunity to fully consult with the accused and asked that the matter be postponed until October 1.

Sarlie said the bail application would be in the form of submission of written affidavits to the court.

The court granted the postponement.

The accused were remanded in custody. They also face charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

NPA regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said more arrests could be made.