Slain witness Babita Deokaran's family welcomes arrest of 'hitmen'

The 53-year-old was shot outside her Johannesburg home on Monday after dropping her teenage daughter off at school.

Deokaran was the Gauteng Health Department's acting CFO and had been assisting in a corruption investigation into a personal protective equipment tender.

Police say the suspects were nabbed at their hideout in the city after officers received information.

READ: Murdered PPE corruption witness Babita Deokaran laid to rest

Two firearms and two cars found in their possession were seized.

Deokaran's brother-in-law, Pastor Tony Haripersadh, has applauded the police for the swift arrests.

"We want justice to be done. We want the perpetrators, the masterminds behind this assignment of assassinating our sister - we want them to be brought to book and exposed."

Haripersadh says the single mother was from Greenbury in Phoenix.

READ: Slain Babita Deokaran described as 'force to be reckoned with' in final send-off

He says the family is shattered by her death.

"We have no other option but to be strong and to deal with this that has happened to us for the sake of Babita's 16-year-old daughter. The child is traumatised and grieving the loss of her mum. 

"Babita was a single parent who dedicated her entire life to her daughter. Her family didn't have to hear her say that, that she is a person of integrity, fighting corruption because we knew the character that she possessed. She was a very noble, honest, responsible person.

Police Minister Bheki Cele says those arrested are believed to be the hitmen.

READ: 7 suspects nabbed for murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran

"I am told by the police that it's just the beginning. They are still going to go very far with the matter.

"Those that are arrested are regarded as hitmen, which means we have to find the bosses, the paymasters. Maybe it's enough to say so without really identifying. But we believe that when this work is done, it will tell us a good story."