Babita Deokaran
Babita Deokaran was a senior Gauteng Department of Health official who headed the department's financial accountability and anti-corruption work before she was shot dead outside her Johannesburg home in August 2021, days after flagging irregular, allegedly fraudulent payments linked to personal protective equipment and other contracts at Tembisa Hospital worth more than R2-billion. Her assassination made her South Africa's most prominent whistleblower martyr and is widely cited as evidence of the lethal risks faced by officials who expose corruption in State institutions. Her case, including messages she sent warning colleagues of danger before her death, has featured in subsequent investigations, disciplinary proceedings and court challenges involving Tembisa Hospital officials, including former chief financial officer Lerato Madyo and former department head Lesiba Malotana. Deokaran's killing helped spur proposed legislative reform, including the Protected Disclosures Bill introduced by the Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, and ActionSA's proposed Fallen Whistleblowers Bill, both aimed at strengthening protection for people who report corruption. Political parties, including the Democratic Alliance and ActionSA, regularly invoke her name when campaigning for whistleblower protection units and accountability measures in Gauteng and other municipalities. Her life and death are the subject of the book 'The Shadow State: Why Babita Deokaran Had to Die' by Jeff Wicks, which was longlisted for the 2026 Sunday Times Literary Awards. She remains a central reference point in South African public debate on State capture, procurement corruption and the protection of whistleblowers.
Babita Deokaran Updates
City of Joburg Council appointment of the head of Public Safety undermines the integrity of the administration
11th September 2026 ActionSA is gravely concerned about the recent decision taken by the ANC led administration in the City of Joburg’s Council to appoint Lesiba... →
DA’s Rasilingwane pledges whistleblower unit to 'crush corruption' in Ekurhuleni
By: Thabi Shomolekae 27th August 2026 DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane has committed to establishing a dedicated, independent whistleblower protection unit... →
DA Ekurhuleni will crush corruption with new whistleblower unit
27th August 2026 Today, I stood outside the Ekurhuleni Council Chambers with hundreds of DA activists, councillors and residents who are tired of watching... →
2026 Sunday Times Literary Awards Longlist Announcement
29th May 2026 Jonathan Ball Publishers is celebrating seven titles that have been longlisted for the 2026 Sunday Times Literary Awards. The non-fiction award... →
ActionSA Reveals R800k Disciplinary Hearing Against Official Who Exposed Alleged Tender Fraud
10th April 2026 ActionSA can today reveal that the Department of Health spent more than R800 000 on a disciplinary process targeting an official who exposed... →
Govt calls for comment on new Bill to strengthen whistleblower protections 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 9th April 2026 Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mamoloko Kubayi officially released the proposed Protected Disclosures Bill on Thursday, calling... →
R10 Million Tembisa contracts linked to suspended Gauteng Health Head
19th March 2026 A company with links to suspended Gauteng Health Department Head Lesiba Malotana got R10 million from corrupt contracts with Tembisa Hospital. This... →
DA exposes hush money paid to Tembisa Hospital corruption suspect
11th March 2026 The Democratic Alliance (DA) has uncovered explosive new information about the departure of the Gauteng Health Department's Chief Financial Officer... →
BLSA calls for more convictions following first major State capture conviction
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 9th March 2026 Progress on improving accountability is finally materialising South Africa; however, the pace is still too slow, business organisation Business... →
DA: Solly Msimanga: Address by leader of the official opposition in Gauteng, during the State of the Province Address (19/02/2026)
19th February 2026 Service delivery in Gauteng is hanging on by a thread, under the leadership of Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and it will collapse completely if urgent... →
