Deokaran family welcomes court's decision to deny suspects bail
The family of slain whistleblower, Babita Deokaran, has welcomed a court's decision to keep her alleged killers behind bars.
The six men, who are accused of the Gauteng Health official's murder, were denied bail in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Monday.
"We are praying for justice to be served and the very fact that bail has been denied we welcome that," says Deokaran family spokesperson Tony Haripersad.
Magistrate Simon Sibanyoni said the suspects failed to prove the exceptional circumstances that could permit their release on bail.
The court did not acknowledge a statement by former health minister Zweli Mkhize who denied earlier claims by one of the suspects that he'd ordered the hit on Deokaran.
The 53-year-old's car was riddled with bullets, when she was killed outside her Johannesburg home in August.
It's after she'd spoken out about a dodgy multi-million-rand PPE deal.
"Our faith is in the justice system and we are hoping that the mastermind who ordered the killing must be identified as well." says Haripersadh.
The case has been postponed to 24 February for further investigation.
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