TIMELINE | The murder of Babita Deokaran and the SIU investigation

SIU freezes assets of Tembisa tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted an order to freeze the assets of tender tycoon Hangwani Morgan Maumela, who has been flagged as part of a syndicate at Tembisa Hospital.

The SIU is delivered its interim report on the capture of the hospital, with questionable tenders worth about R2 billion identified.

SIU head, Advocate Andy Mothobi, said Maumela’s syndicate - linked to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala - secured tenders worth more than R800 million at the hospital.

2025

New book exposes the rot behind the murder of Babita Deokaran

In 'The Shadow State', Jeff Wicks follows the trail behind the whistleblower’s murder and the corruption she tried to expose.

ActionSA renews calls to find the masterminds behind Babita Deokaran's murder

ActionSA Leader Herman Mashaba said that her murder was a reminder of the risks whistleblowers face.

"On this day in 2021 was brutally assassinated for exposing the cancerous corruption that pillaged critical public resources in Gauteng, making the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against corruption. Deokaran’s death represents the justice system's failure to protect brave South Africans who are heartfelt with corruption.

Mashaba added that whistleblowers must be protected at all costs.

'All we want is for the mastermind to be brought to book' – Rakesh Deokaran, brother of whistleblower Babita Deokaran

Rakesh Deokaran says that the family will never get over this loss and wants the mastermind behind her murder to be exposed.

“If you look at the media, it will show you there was a trial. All you have to do is chase the money.” - Rakesh Deokaran, brother of whistleblower Babita Deokaran

Tembisa Hospital 'syndicate kingpin' hit with criminal tax charges

It will be four years this August since Gauteng Health Department official Babita Deokaran was killed for her work to expose corruption at Tembisa Hospital.

In the latest developmentaround the beleaguered hospital, a man described as the 'syndicate kingpin' has appeared in court not on charges of corruption, but for his alleged failure to pay to submit tax returns for the company Fuligenix.

AUGUST 2024

SIU reveals Tembisa Hospital's R2bn discrepancy: 'We're going after them immediately'

On 23 August 2021, Deokaran was brutally gunned down in her driveway after dropping her daughter off at school.

Though six men were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to 22 years for her murder, the masterminds behind this heinous act remain unidentified.

Mothibi reveals that an investigation has disclosed that Tembisa Hospital's financial discrepancies exceed R2 billion.

SIU looking into claims Tembisa Hospital corruption extends to other hospitals - Mothibi

Special Investigating Unit (SIU) head Andy Mothibi says they’re looking into information that the rot uncoveredat Tembisa Hospital which slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran flagged, extends to other hospitals too.

"Now we’ve had whistleblowers coming through, the team is engaging with whistleblowers who worked with one of the syndicates that allege the syndicates involved are involved in other hospitals."

Mothibi said they were still verifying the information.

"The information is currently being verified by the Special Investigating Team, the e-Gov and the Treasury. So we’ll either be expanding the proclamation or getting new proclamations to investigate at other hospitals."

ActionSA to formally propose new legislation to protect and incentivise whistleblowers

ActionSA said that it will formally propose new legislation aimed at protecting and incentivising whistleblowers.

This comes as the party commemorated the life of Babita Deokaran, the health department official who, according to the party, paid the ultimate price for exposing corruption.

3 years after Babita Deokaran's murder: 'Difficult to cling on to hope there will be accountability'

"No one's been held accountable and time trudges slowly on, and with that memories fade and evidence is dispensed with and it's become more and more difficult to cling to some sort of hope that there will be any accountability in this sorry saga."Jeff Wicks, Investigative Journalist - News24

Babita Deokaran was a senior official in the Gauteng Health Department’s finance unit and flagged R850 million in suspicious payments out of Tembisa Hospital in the preceding weeks to her assassination. She was gunned down outside her home on 23 August 2021.