SIU Finalises Investigation into Babita Deokaran Murder Amid Calls for Stronger Whistleblower Protection
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it is finalising its investigation into the murder of Gauteng health official Babita Deokaran, who was gunned down in 2021 after exposing alleged tender corruption at Tembisa Hospital.
In a recent interview on Thursday, 31 July 2025, SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi confirmed that investigators are wrapping up their work on the high-profile case. Speaking to the public broadcaster, Mothibi said the team is gathering the last pieces of evidence before releasing a full report. “We will be going out soon. We are just finalising the investigation. In fact, I’ll be meeting the investigating team soon,” he stated. This update comes almost four years after Deokaran’s shocking assassination, which highlighted the dangers faced by those who speak out against graft in South Africa’s public sector.
Deokaran, a dedicated public servant and acting chief director of financial accounting in the Gauteng Department of Health, was shot multiple times outside her home in Winchester Hills, Johannesburg, on 23 August 2021. She had just dropped her teenage daughter at school when assailants in a vehicle pulled up and fired at her car. The 53-year-old single mother died at the scene from her injuries, sending ripples of fear through communities and anti-corruption circles. Her death was quickly linked to her role in uncovering massive irregularities in procurement deals, particularly at Tembisa Hospital, where she flagged suspicious payments worth hundreds of millions of rands.
The Corruption Deokaran Exposed at Tembisa Hospital
Deokaran’s bravery stemmed from her position overseeing financial transactions in the health department. She had been assisting the SIU for years, providing key insights into dodgy deals, including those tied to COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies. Just days before her death, she raised alarms about irregular tenders totalling around R850 million at Tembisa Hospital. These included overpriced contracts for items like surgical gloves, sanitisers, and even bizarre purchases such as R500 000 worth of skinny jeans and R327 000 for toilet paper, far beyond market rates.
Investigations revealed a web of companies linked to influential figures extracting funds from the hospital. One central player was Hangwani Morgan Maumela, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew from a previous marriage, whose network of firms allegedly scored R36 million in deals in a short time. Another, Stefan Govindraju, took over companies that landed R116 million in red-flagged contracts. The SIU’s probe has since uncovered potential looting amounting to a staggering R3 billion from Tembisa alone, involving syndicates that bypassed procurement rules and inflated prices by up to 400%.
Deokaran’s input was vital in exposing these schemes. Mothibi praised her contributions, saying, “The immense input that Babita Deokaran’s efforts has really given us… to uncover corruption that’s happening in the Department of Health — particularly at Tembisa Hospital — has been very helpful.” Her reports led to suspensions, including Tembisa Hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi and health department CFO Lerato Madyo, and referrals for prosecution. The SIU recommended fraud charges against key figures like Maumela and Govindraju, whose empires turned ordinary people—bank tellers, call-centre agents, and sound technicians—into overnight millionaires through front companies.
The corruption extended beyond Tembisa, with similar syndicates allegedly operating at other Gauteng hospitals. Mothibi revealed that whistleblowers have come forward with claims of involvement in multiple facilities, prompting possible expansions of the investigation. “The team is engaging with whistleblowers who worked with one of the syndicates. They allege that the syndicates are involved in other hospitals,” he noted. These groups are said to have deep ties to political networks, including the ANC’s Ekurhuleni branch, where figures like treasurer-general Sello Sekhokho ran businesses accused of corrupt health deals.
Arrests, Convictions, and the Hunt for Masterminds
Six men—Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Radebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbhele, Siphiwe Mazibuko, and Siphakanyiswa Dladla—were convicted and sentenced for Deokaran’s murder in 2023. They received terms ranging from 15 to 30 years after pleading guilty to charges including murder and illegal possession of firearms. The hitmen, reportedly paid R400 000 each, had roots in a small KwaZulu-Natal village called Ngodini and links to the violent minibus taxi industry. One suspect even initially claimed former health minister Zweli Mkhize funded the hit but later retracted it.
A neighbour’s tip about a suspicious BMW seen multiple times near the scene led to their arrests, aided by CCTV evidence and a passenger’s testimony. The killers had stalked Deokaran for over a month, disabling nearby cameras and possibly using surveillance software to track her phone. They implicated three more men, but one, Khanyisani Mpungose, was killed in Germiston months later, raising fears of a cover-up.
Despite these convictions, the masterminds behind the assassination remain at large. Deokaran’s family and activists continue to demand justice, with her brother expressing hope for breakthroughs from new evidence. “Almost four years after the murder of whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, her family remains hopeful for justice,” as recent reports indicate potential leads that could expose the orchestrators. SIU investigators have faced threats themselves, with Mothibi noting safety concerns during fieldwork from Pretoria to Tembisa.
Urgent Need for Better Whistleblower Protection
Deokaran’s murder exposed glaring gaps in South Africa’s whistleblower safeguards. Mothibi acknowledged the vulnerabilities, stating, “There are measures in place at the moment to protect whistleblowers, but we agree that they can be improved. Because we’ve seen in many instances, whistleblowers suffer prejudices — in some instances, even the extreme price of death.” He called for an overhaul of the Protected Disclosures Act, which focuses mainly on workplace retaliation but offers little physical security.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, supported by the Presidency, is leading reforms to strengthen frameworks. Draft amendments aim to provide broader protections, including for those not yet formal witnesses, drawing from international best practices. President Ramaphosa has repeatedly stressed the need for more state support, saying whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption but often left exposed.
Civil society groups like the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the Whistleblower House have rallied for change, organising protests and memorials. At a recent event marking Deokaran’s death anniversary, calls echoed for financial incentives for whistleblowers and faster prosecutions. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo highlighted the moral duty to report crime but urged rewards given the high risks in South Africa.
Experts warn that without robust laws, corruption will thrive. Deokaran’s case mirrors others, like Mpho Molefe in Ekurhuleni and Pamela Mabini in Gqeberha, where whistleblowers paid the ultimate price. The SIU has implemented internal measures, like self-funded protection for informants, but Mothibi insists on systemic changes. “We want an overhaul, a general whistleblower protection, including witness protection. If you don’t become a witness at the moment, the protection is a bit on the low side.”
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