The family of assassinated whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, who was gunned down outside her Johannesburg home last August, said they hoped protection would be provided to Phindile Baleni, director-general in the Presidency, after she received a letter and bullet in her mailbox at home last week.
Deokaran had been a critical witness for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), having provided evidence in more than 100 investigations relating to corruption within the Gauteng Department of Health, where she had worked for some three decades.
News24 reports that Baleni’s letter instructed her to advise authorities to release those involved in Deokaran’s murder, and to ask the president not to continue with state capture-related findings.
“The family of Babita Deokaran is aware of the threats against the Director-General … We trust she will receive full protection and that no other lives will be lost in the fight against corruption,” the family said in a statement on Sunday. They believed the threat was confirmation that the six arrested men were part of a plan to kill Deokaran.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Mangwenya said Baleni was receiving protection to enable her to continue her duties, including those of being Cabinet Secretary and convener of the Forum of South African Directors-General.
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