TODAY marks 1 401 days since whistle-blower, Babita Deokaran,  was shot and killed outside her home in Gauteng, 

While the six “hitmen” have been sentenced, her family continues to fight for justice and calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to find the “mastermind/s” behind her murder. 

Babita, 53, who was the chief director of financial accounting at the Gauteng Department of Health, was killed on August 23 in 2021. 

It is alleged that a hit was put on the mother of one after she blew the whistle on fraud and corruption related to Covid-19 PPE procurement amounting to R332 million at the Tembisa Hospital.

Three days later, six men were arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. 

Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Radebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbhele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla, who entered into a plea agreement with the State, were sentenced in the South Gauteng  High Court on August 22 last year.

However, during the court proceedings it emerged that the “mastermind/s” were still at large. 

At the time, Phindi Mjonondwane, the Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson said authorities had been looking into “certain people of interest” named during the plea and sentence negotiations”.

“They provided us with information that will get us the mastermind,” she said. 

Speaking to the POST this week, Rakesh Deokaran, Babita’s younger brother, who resides in Johannesburg, said the wheels of justice were not turning. 

“It will be four years since her death, but there is still no closure. My sister’s soul will never rest until the mastermind or masterminds who made sure they silence her are found. 

“We, as the family, will also never be able to heal until there is justice for her. But we refuse to remain silent for her and for all other whistleblowers who put their lives at risk to stop corruption.” 

Deokaran said the family were left in the dark about the progress on the case. 

“Almost a year after the sentencing of the ‘hitmen’ and we don’t know what is happening with the case. But it is not our duty to ask, we should be given regular updates instead of deafening silence. There seemingly no will to find the mastermind or masterminds in her case. 

“We have been calling for an intervention from our president. The person or people need to be brought to book. Just before my sister was killed, she said her life was at risk and exposed people, but nothing was done. Nothing was also done to protect her. Our government is failing whistle-blowers. 

“We also found it to be very suspicious that a fire started in the filing room at the Tembisa Hospital and then there was another fire a few days later. We held a silent protest outside the hospital, calling for a swift investigation. We call on our government to speed up the investigations,” she said. 

Deokaran added the pain of losing Babita, who was formerly of Phoenix in Durban and one of eight siblings, still felt new. 

“I feel like I just received that call that my sister had been killed. The grief will never go away. We mourn her every day. Babita was our pillar of strength and the glue that held us together. She had that maternal instinct and cared for all of us. She was the most wonderful and caring person. She was a woman of integrity.  We will not let her fight against corruption go in vain.”

Deokaran said Babita’s daughter, Thiara, who is now a second year IT student at Wits University, was thriving.

“She is doing well. We continue to show her love and support.” 

THE POST

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