Whistle-blower, Babita Deokaran, will be honoured in Mount Edgecombe on August 9.
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A MONUMENT honouring slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran will be unveiled in Mount Edgecombe on August 9, nearly five years after her murder shocked the country and highlighted deep-rooted corruption within the public health sector.
Deokaran, a chief accountant at the Gauteng Department of Health, was shot and killed outside her home on August 23 2021.
In the days leading up to her murder, she had raised concerns over irregular payments, kept detailed records exposing the alleged looting of public healthcare funds, and tried to halt R100 million in suspicious payments.
The monument initiative is spearheaded by the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council and the Shri Mariammen Temple Society, who said it was important to honour Deokaran in the community where she grew up.
Venashree Naidu, treasurer of the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council, said the organisations felt it was important to bring Deokaran “back home”.
“She was a daughter of Mount Edgecombe, and so we felt it fitting to erect a monument to her here in her hometown. She was a national symbol of what ethical public service should look like. Babita Deokaran represented everything that a good, strong, ethical and honest civil service is about. South Africa needs civil servants to be the backbone of a genuine democracy.”
“Her monument must stand as a reminder to all that she is loved for her heroism and that her example still calls on us to stand for what is right,” she said.
Deokaran’s niece, Karishma Rambally, said the idea for the memorial tribute emerged during a meeting between the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council and the Shri Mariammen Temple committee.
“One of the members suggested recognising Babita Deokaran after it became known that she was a product of Mount Edgecombe. Discussions then evolved around the idea of creating a memorial tribute. Thereafter, contact was made with our family, and a meeting took place to obtain our family's blessings and permission to go ahead with the concept,” she said.
Rambally said the monument would serve as a lasting tribute to Deokaran’s courage and principles.
“The monument is intended to serve as a lasting tribute to my aunt Babita’s integrity and moral courage. It represents the values she stood for and aims to inspire future generations to uphold honesty, integrity and accountability. The concept is centred around remembrance, honour and the impact one honest, ordinary, working-class individual can have on society.”
“The fact that the unveiling of her monument will take place on August 9, a day we observe as Women's Day in South Africa, makes the occasion even more auspicious and meaningful. It will stand not only as a tribute to Babita, but as a tribute to the strength, resilience, and courage of women who choose integrity even when the cost is high,” she explained.
She said the initiative deeply moved the family.
“Our family has been deeply touched and humbled by this initiative. While nothing can ease the loss we feel on a daily basis, it brings us comfort in knowing that our loved one’s legacy continues to live on and that her courage and sacrifice are being recognised and remembered in such a meaningful way,” she said.
Rambally added that the ongoing public support had been both emotional and encouraging for the family.
“On a daily basis, we see people engage and reflect on Babita's life and values. It reinforces that her story continues to inspire many people, not just across the country but also around the world.”
Speaking about the family’s grief nearly five years later, Rambally said: “We continue to miss her every single day, the last four years, now approaching five, continue to be an emotional one for us. Grief is something that evolves over time, and we still have many difficult moments. However, we are a close-knit family and continue to draw strength from one another.”
She also thanked those involved in ensuring Deokaran’s legacy continues to be remembered.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who continues to honour Babita’s legacy. Initiatives like these not only preserve her memory but also keep alive the important conversations around courage, ethics and standing up for what is right. We thank the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council, as well as the Shri Mariammen Temple committee and all involved in bringing this grand honour to my aunt,” said Rambally.