Sunday marked five years since Babita Deokaran was assassinated outside her Johannesburg home. The Gauteng Health whistleblower was serving as acting chief director of financial accounting in 2021 when she raised concerns about suspicious payments involving Tembisa Hospital. The 53-year-old was shot by six hitmen, who are now serving prison sentences.
Days before her death, Babita Deokaran had warned her seniors that her life was in danger. She was attacked on the driveway of her home but did not receive protection. Deokaran had uncovered more than R800 million in payments to at least 200 alleged shell companies.
Babita Deokaran Murder: Questions Remain Five Years Later
The Babita Deokaran murder remains under scrutiny five years after her death. At a memorial event on Sunday, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Neeshan Balton said police had yet to identify the people allegedly responsible for paying her killers. The six men who carried out the shooting are serving prison sentences.
“What we haven’t seen is identification of the people who paid her killers. Nor have we seen a change of the systems that enable this corruption.”
Tembisa Hospital Corruption Probe Reaches R2 Billion
The Tembisa Hospital corruption investigation has since uncovered allegations involving a much larger amount than initially identified by Deokaran.
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The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has placed the figure at R2 billion. The alleged corruption has been linked to at least three coordinated syndicates.
Businessmen Hangwani Maumela and Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala have also been linked to the investigation. They remain under investigation.
Babita Deokaran Whistleblower Case Still Under Scrutiny
The Babita Deokaran whistleblower case continues to raise questions about the wider corruption and the people allegedly behind her assassination.
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Balton said the identities of those who allegedly paid the killers had not been established. He also pointed to the systems that allegedly allowed the corruption to take place.
Five years after Deokaran’s death, the six convicted killers remain behind bars. The broader investigations into the alleged corruption and other possible roleplayers continue.
