Babita Deokaran with her brother Rakesh, whose unwavering support continues to fuel the family's quest for justice following her murder in August 2021, as she bravely exposed R850 million in corruption at Tembisa Hospital.
Image: Supplied
AFTER nearly five years since Babita Deokaran's murder, her family have expressed hope that the masterminds behind her assassination will be uncovered as the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) continues to investigate her corruption allegations at the Tembisa Hospital.
Rakesh Deokaran, Babita's younger brother, said the family welcomed the SIU’s findings.
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.
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.
They have since been sentenced, however, the search for the “mastermind or masterminds” continues.
“We trusted the SIU from day one and they have been delivering. We are also proud of and grateful to advocate Andy Mothibi, the former head of the SIU and now the national director of public prosecutions. He made a promise to me while he was still the head of the SIU and he has been fulfilling it. Babita’s death will not go in vain. My sister also seems to be working for her grave.
“However, many big fish are still out, but they will be brought to book. We will also only have peace and closure when the mastermind or masterminds behind Babita’s killing are found. It has been almost five years since her death, but nothing has changed. We still feel the same pain and miss her dearly,” he said.
Dr Nora Saneka, chairperson of the Active Citizens Movement, said that while there seemed to be some progress tracking down alleged culprits, it was not enough considering the extent of the looting at the hospital.
“The rot is pervasive and systems of patronage protect the guilty. One or two arrests will not be a deterrent as the culture of corruption runs deep. The masterminds behind the assassination of Babita have still not been identified, arrested and charged. If there is adequate protection of informers, and whistle-blowers, further information would be revealed.
“We can only hope that brave individuals will come forward. We hope more evidence can be uncovered through further investigation by the SIU as information is disclosed in the forthcoming trials,” she said.
Ben Theron, chief executive officer of The Whistleblower House, said the SIU continued to play a leading role in combating corruption and recovering funds misappropriated from the state.
“The associated special tribunal ensures that matters are dealt with expeditiously, enabling the swift finalisation of asset freezes and, where appropriate, the forfeiture of funds and assets to the state. Income derived from these recoveries is directed to the criminal assets recovery account fund.
“We are confident that the SIU’s principle of ‘following the money trail’ will prove effective in identifying the true beneficiaries of stolen funds, thereby exposing the masterminds behind these criminal acts. Only by holding criminals accountable can we strengthen the rule of law and restore public trust,” he said.
Wayne Duvenage, chief executive officer of Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), said: “We believe these decisions and actions taken by the SIU to preserve assets and pension funds from those involved in corruption on the Tembisa Hospital matter, is in the best interests of society. We cannot allow those involved to get away without being held to account in a meaningful manner.”
He said Outa also believed that the SIU and the Hawks should go much further to find those higher up the chain, behind this “heist”.
“As can be seen from the Madlanga Commission's work and the external perpetrators identified, there are senior people within the Department of Health that had to be involved, and still need to be identified and held accountable.
“This case shouldn’t be too complicated if thorough and independent forensic evaluations and audits are conducted – in order to find the masterminds in this case,” he said.
Devoshum Moodley-Veera, an integrity activist, said while the findings were welcomed, the investigation had taken a considerable amount of time.
“This raises concerns about the pace of investigations into the allegations of corruption in South Africa.”
Moodley-Veera, a PhD student specialising in whistle-blower protection, law and ethics at Stellenbosch University, said the SIU's findings were important steps towards uncovering those responsible for the murder of Babita.
“However, the lengthy period between the initial allegations and the recent developments highlights the need for greater urgency and co-ordination among law enforcement and oversight institutions, when dealing with corruption cases that involve significant public interest and potential risks to whistle-blowers and witnesses.
“The developments also reinforce that the alleged corruption at Tembisa Hospital may involve multiple actors. A comprehensive investigation into all implications is needed swiftly.”
Koogan Pillay, a governance and human rights advocate, said: “The SIU’s findings are encouraging, even though it has taken so long. But, I am confident that this should lead to the mastermind or masterminds behind Babita’s killing being caught.”