Deokaran’s family believes her values will inspire whistleblowers

[File Image] A candlelight ceremony in memory of slain Gauteng Health senior official and corruption fighter, Babita Deokaran.

The family of slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran says they believe the values she stood for will continue to inspire future whistleblowers.

Deokaran was assassinated outside her home in Johannesburg four years ago.

This happened after she exposed corruption, leading to the halting of over R850 million in suspicious payments at Thembisa Hospital in Johannesburg.

Stellenbosch University hosted the inaugural Babita Deokaran lecture on its Bellville campus on Monday.

Her brother Rakesh Deokaran says South Africa needs a lot of people who will be like his sister.

“If you follow Babita’s values and principles and it’s all about integrity and doing the right thing in this country of ours and we need a lot of people like that, if people can take a page out of her book and live life by her values, South Africa would be a great country.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says the legacy of the slain whistleblower is not only a cautionary tale, but also a mandate to fight corruption.

Hlabisa says Babita Deokaran’s honesty exposed the syndicate, but the system failed her and her courage made her a target of the shadow state.

He adds that her legacy will be honoured by fixing the system and ensuring such courage is recognised.

WATCH | Velenkosini Hlabisa says Babita Deokaran’s honesty exposed the syndicate, but the system failed her, and her courage made her a target of the shadow state. He adds that her legacy will be honoured by fixing the system and ensuring such courage is recognised. pic.twitter.com/VRbNe0yAkA

— SABC News (@SABCNews) December 9, 2025