The family of slain whistle-blower, Babita Deokaran, is disappointed and shocked by the findings of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) interim report that more than R2 billion was looted from Tembisa Hospital.
Deokaran, who was a Gauteng Department of Health official, uncovered around R850 million in suspicious payments at Tembisa Hospital and was killed in August 2021 for exposing this corruption, implicating at least 15 current and former employees.
The six men accused of her murder were sentenced earlier this year, but the mastermind behind the hit has not been caught.
Babita’s brother-in-law, Bishop Tony Haripersadh, said it has been difficult for the family, who still struggles to find closure since her death.
He believes that the authorities and law enforcement are not concerned about finding the mastermind behind her murder.
“The family is very saddened and hurt. They say time will heal, but for us, time is not healing, because it’s four years now, and it’s still like the first day that we lost her,” he said.
Haripersadh said they are disappointed with the SIU report finding that funds taken had risen from R850 million at the time of her death to R2 billion.
“We are very disappointed and angry at the fact that she laid down her life, and all that she uncovered was stored on her laptop and cellphone.”
He stated that investigating officials could have discovered clues and identified individuals in the report had they examined her devices.
Haripersadh, a former government accountant of over 10 years, stated that if action had been taken sooner, “a lot of the money that was taken, about R1.2 billion after her death, could have been stopped”.
He said the family has mixed feelings about the justice system, unsure if the mastermind will be identified.
However, Haripersadh said the Madlanga Commission’s globally publicised allegations offer hope. The commission is looking into allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system
They believe the truth will emerge, preventing further cover-ups, and are optimistic about positive developments.
Rakesh Deokaran, Babita’s younger brother, said the SIU’s latest findings are extremely alarming.
Deokaran said the increase in looted funds to R2 billion is not just a statistic; it represents the scale of betrayal of the public trust.
He said this doubling highlights how corruption during the Covid-19 procurement period was far more widespread than initially revealed.
“What is especially heartbreaking is that the looting appears to have continued even after Babita’s death,” he said.
Deokaran said this confirms that those involved were emboldened by a culture of impunity, where whistle-blowers could be silenced and corruption could thrive without consequence.
“It tells us that the rot was deeper than anyone wanted to admit, and it calls for urgent accountability from the highest levels.”
He said the SIU report is not just an audit of financial misconduct; it is a roadmap to justice if taken seriously.
It provides the evidence needed for prosecutions and should be used by law enforcement as a foundation for dismantling corruption networks, he added.
“Too often reports gather dust while the guilty continue as if nothing happened. This must not be the case here. For Babita’s memory, and for the thousands of South Africans who rely on public healthcare, the SIU findings must translate into real accountability, systemic change, and the recovery of public confidence.”
Justice for Babita must go beyond punishing her killers, said Deokaran, who is one of six remaining siblings.
“It means that those implicated in the SIU report — whether public officials, private contractors, or political figures — must face the law. There must be visible prosecutions, recovery of stolen funds, and stronger systems put in place to ensure that whistle-blowers are never again left unprotected.
“Babita stood firm in her commitment to the truth, and true justice will only be served if her courage leads to lasting reform in how corruption cases are handled,” said Deokaran.
Babita was posthumously awarded the Risk Influencer of the Year Award 2025 by the Institute of Risk Management South Africa this week.
“It’s not the first. This was one of many yesterday (Friday). We are grateful and proud of her being recognised. It shows that she is making a difference and influence on society,” said Deokaran.
Babita was a single parent to a daughter, who still struggles to come to terms with her mother’s death, Haripersadh further explained.
He said it is not easy for her to talk about what happened to her mother, and the family tries to shield her from any developments while she focuses on completing her second year of university studying computer science in Johannesburg.
“As far as schooling is going, she’s excelling at university. She is a model of her mother. She is like Babita, because Babita, at that young age, was a go-getter, a visionary, and a very dedicated student and committed at work as well. So her daughter is a chip off the old block,” he said.
Haripersadh stated that the family continues to uphold her legacy by associating with organisations that advocate for whistle-blowers and truth in this country.
