The department of health is working on strengthening processes to protect whistle-blowers and ensure Babita Deokaran did not die in vain.

Deputy health minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo on Wednesday told MPs rooting out corruption at Tembisa Hospital was on top of minister Joe Phaahla’s list of priorities.

“That matter was a really sad story of a very responsible South African citizen who stood up and wanted to report crime and when she did she was placed under protection for that. She suffered the fate for blowing the whistle.

“It’s going to be discouraging for me and you to continue to be whistle-blowers when we cannot protect and make sure that those who are whistle-blowers can be protected to the core. It is a challenge that we still face,” said Dhlomo.

The deputy minister was responding to a question from the EFF’s Suzan Thembekwayo, who said Deokaran was assassinated after flagging dodgy payments amounting to more R850m at Tembisa Hospital.

Thembekwayo said: “The audit that was initiated as a result of her whistle-blowing was stopped the day she was murdered. Have you done anything to really get to the bottom of the rot at Tembisa Hospital to ensure Babita did not die in vain?

“What mechanisms have you put in place to ensure that other whistle-blowers do not suffer the same fate as Babita,” asked Thembekwayo.

Dhlomo replied: “The matter of the rot and fraud at Tembisa Hospital was investigated and it continues to get top priority attendance by the minister of health.”

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