The brother of whistleblower Babita Deokaran has expressed gratitude to the media for focusing on the cases she was investigating at the time of her death.
Deokaran, a senior Gauteng Health official, was gunned down outside her Johannesburg home in what is believed to have been a hit. She was a key witness in an investigation into tender fraud related to the procurement of personal protective equipment.
Six men have since been charged with Deokaran’s murder and are due to be back in court on August 24, 2022.
Deokaran’s brother, Rakesh, says her death should motivate authorities to ensure that whistleblowers are protected.
Rakesh says, “Initially, it has been difficult. As a family unit, we stood together and tried to overcome it, but as the days get closer now, it becomes more difficult for us. We actually appreciate what the media has done. At the end of the day, to get things out there, it’s not something that should be swept under the bridge. At the end of the day, we appreciate what the media has done for us to put it out there on a regular basis.”
SIU welcomes arrests in Babita Deokaran murder case:
Gauteng to appoint Independent Forensic Investigator to deal with allegations emerging from Babita Deokaran case pic.twitter.com/p1HGtBZf0Z
— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) August 15, 2022
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