'Babita Deokaran's assassination is a shame on the nation,' says Minister Hlabisa

Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has stated that the assassination of whistleblower Babita Deokaran "is a shame on the nation."

Marking World Anti-Corruption Day, Minister Hlabisa delivered the first annual Babita Deokaran Lecture at the University of Stellenbosch. The event comes four years after Deokaran's death. She was gunned down after exposing widespread corruption while serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Tembisa Hospital.

A SYSTEM THAT FAILED
Minister Hlabisa acknowledged that the 25-year-old Protected Disclosures Act has proven insufficient in protecting whistleblowers, emphasising the urgent need for its amendment.

The lecture took place just days after another witness, who attempted to expose corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS) before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, was also assassinated in front of their home.

Minister Hlabisa stressed that the cost of speaking out should not be the loss of life or livelihood. He gave a powerful quote on Deokaran's fate:

"Babita’s honesty exposed the syndicate. The system, unfortunately, failed her, and her courage became the reason for the shadow state to strike back."

FOCUS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
With corruption remaining a serious issue within local government, Hlabisa is now insisting that municipalities institutionalise robust whistleblowing policies.

He noted that existing checks are not enough: "Oversight alone will not protect truth tellers."

In a significant move, the Minister says he will also be insisting that proposed amendments to the country's whistleblowing law include provisions specific to municipalities.