Honouring Babita Deokaran: A call for stronger whistleblower protections

Babita Deokaran's family and officials gathered in South Africa on Women's Day to unveil a memorial for the slain whistleblower, while calling for stronger protections for those who expose corruption. Babita, a former official at the Gauteng Department of Health, was assassinated in 2021 outside her home. Her brother, Rakesh Deokaran, emphasized the family's gratitude for gathering to remember her and ensure her legacy persisted.

Babita had exposed suspicious payments and procurement irregularities at Tembisa Hospital, leading to billions of rands in alleged fraud and corruption. Her disclosures helped convict six men, but the alleged mastermind behind her murder remains at large. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli highlighted the risks whistleblowers face and urged better protection, while civil society urged immediate action to strengthen whistleblower protections, including financial, legal, healthcare, and psychological support.

The memorial was erected in Babita's hometown, but civil society emphasized it should also serve as a reminder that her legacy demands action to safeguard other whistleblowers and public servants who uphold integrity.