By Palesa Matlala
· Deokaran was shot dead outside her home in Johannesburg after stopping R850-million in dodgy payments at Tembisa Hospital.
· Six hitmen were jailed but the alleged mastermind was killed in 2021 — before he could be charged or tried.
Babita Deokaran’s family is still waiting for justice — four years after she was shot dead in her car outside her Johannesburg home.
She was 53 when she was gunned down in broad daylight on 23 August 2021, just after dropping off her daughter at school.
The family unveiled a memorial plaque at her old complex in Winchester Hills on Friday. They used the moment to call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to help speed up the case.
“It is a very difficult day for us as the family, and if we feel like this, you can imagine how her daughter feels,” a relative posted on X.
They added: “Mr President, we are appealing to you as well. We have been counting down the days since Babita was murdered. Today marks four years, and our appeal to you is: hasten this case so that we can bring closure to it.”
Deokaran was a senior official in the Gauteng Department of Health. Just before her murder, she stopped R850 million in suspicious payments linked to Tembisa Hospital.
Six men who carried out the hit were arrested, pleaded guilty and were sentenced. But the person who allegedly ordered the murder has never faced justice.
Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks writes in his book ”The Shadow State” that a man named Khayisani Mpungose was arrested with bundles of cash days after the killing — but he was released without being charged.
When the six killers were sentenced, they named Mpungose as the person who gave the order and pulled the trigger. He was shot dead in November 2021, just three months after being set free.
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation also marked the anniversary by calling for better protection for whistle-blowers.
“Voices raised, united against corruption and demanding justice for Babita Deokaran. The hitmen are behind bars, but those who paid them must also face justice,” the group said in a statement.
“Today we stand with all whistle-blowers and with every person being intimidated to stay silent in the face of corruption. Your courage is our call to action.”
Pictured above: Members of the Kathrada Foundation
Image source: X
