Corruption Watch has called for harsher sentences in cases involving whistleblowers.
The organisation was responding to the sentences handed down to the killers of Babita Deokaran, a senior health official at the Gauteng Department of Health.
She was assassinated after flagging suspicious payments worth R850 million to shell companies and politicians, among other companies and people, who were service providers at Tembisa Hospital.
On Tuesday, the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg sentenced Deokaran's killers to terms of imprisonment ranging from six to 22 years after a plea and sentence agreement with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Nicki van't Riet, head of legal and investigations at Corruption Watch, told News24 the organisation was disappointed with the length of the sentences handed to Deokaran's killers.
"Although we understand these were done through an agreement, we believe cases that involve whistleblowers must be dealt with harsher sentences. There must be a total revision of the laws that deal with whistleblowers.
"When we look at the sentences, they also don't speak to the severe nature of the crime committed," she said.
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