Family hopes for breakthrough in finding mastermind behind whistle-blower's murder

ALMOST four years after the killing of whistle-blower, Babita Deokaran, her family and other stakeholders believe there is hope of finding the “mastermind” or “masterminds” behind the hit on her. 

This comes after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that Senzo Mchunu, the Minister of Police, was receiving "financial support” from controversial businessman, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. 

Mkhwanazi alleged that Matlala was at the centre of a criminal syndicate involving politicians, police officers, and other judicial figures.

He also alleged that Matlala's company secured a R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) health services tender in 2024, despite red flags raised over allegations of fraud linked to Tembisa Hospital. The tender was later withdrawn. 

According to reports, Matlala’s name first surfaced in connection to tender irregularities at Tembisa Hospital in 2021.  

It is alleged that he was linked to fraud probes sparked by Babita, and that she had flagged his companies for suspicious activities. 

Babita, 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 at the hospital which ran into billions of rand.

The 53-year-old, of Johannesburg, was gunned down just weeks after raising the alarm. 

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

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

In May, Matlala was arrested along with his wife and two others for the alleged attempted murder of his former girlfriend in 2023. The matter is currently being heard in Alexandra Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg. He is currently in prison custody. 

Speaking to the POST, Rakesh Deokaran, Babita's younger brother, said they were hoping the “wheels of justice” would now turn. 

“While I don’t want to speculate, this could be a breakthrough in finding the mastermind or masterminds behind my sister’s killing. While the hitmen have been sentenced, the person who wanted to silence her still remains at large. There has been no real progress in getting justice for my sister. 

“But we are now hopeful, as this person’s name has been mentioned many times over the years. We can only hope that the police and justice system do everything in their power to investigate and bring to book those responsible for taking my sister away from us. It must be done not just for Babita, but for all whistler-blowers who put their lives at risk to stop fraud and corruption in this country. With this news and just a month away from her death anniversary, it seems as if she is working overtime from her grave,”  he said. 

Ben Theron, chief executive officer of The Whistleblower House, said they were hopeful that investigations would lead to the uncovering of the mastermind behind Babita’s killing. 

“Any step forward is welcome, and this may help connect more dots. Whether this is the breakthrough remains to be seen. However, the silence from the authorities has been deafening. It is deeply troubling that journalists and whistle-blowers have done more to push this case forward than those in power.

“We need more than words; we need determined, visible action. Babita's family deserves the truth, whistle-blowers deserve protection and South Africans deserve to know that justice is not reserved for the powerless, but applies to all,” he said. 

Dr Nora Saneka, chairperson of the Active Citizens Movement (ACM), said the arrest of the person or people behind Babita’s killing depended on what the investigation uncovered. 

“The SAPS or Hawks must allocate their best and most experienced investigators to this matter. There seems to be a cul-de-sac or logjam where there is little or no progress with even high-profile cases like the Babita murder. There is insufficient or no consequence management. Despite the conviction of six men for carrying out the hit on Babita, no progress has been made in uncovering the mastermind or masterminds behind her murder. 

“This lack of accountability continues to erode public trust and fuels growing frustration over the perceived failure of law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities to pursue the truth without fear or favour,” she said. 

Saneka said dedicated resources must be allocated to trace the chain of command that ordered Babita's assassination.

In addition, she said whistle- blowers must be protected  and investigators shielded from interference.

“There is also a need to investigate Matlala’s network, which includes all alleged connections such as political, administrative, or otherwise must be scrutinised with impartiality and urgency. There should also be a clean-up of the system. The SAPS, correctional services, and any institutions enabling impunity must undergo thorough internal reviews to eliminate complicity and corruption.

“We hope that the Commission of Inquiry announced by the president identifies the ‘rot’ in the criminal justice system. South Africa has waited far too long for justice in this case. Babita stood for truth, accountability, and service. Her memory cannot be honoured through silence and delay,” she said. 

Adila Chowan, an advocate and whistle-blower, said she believed there was a possibility that the spotlight now on Matlala could aid in the arrest of the mastermind of Babita’s murder. 

“Matlala has long been suspected of being at the core of the Tembisa Hospital corruption that Babita exposed. Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi has explicitly tied him to that network. Previously, the six convicted hitmen provided information that helped identify a planner, and promised to lead investigators to the instruction-giver, but that person remains at large.

“If Matlala was involved either in ordering the hit or covering it up, as alleged, extracting evidence from him through phone records, financial trails, his associates could result in a major breakthrough, leading to the mastermind,” she said. 

THE POST