Gauteng govt to appoint independent investigator to probe Babita Deokaran murder

Deokaran was gunned down in her driveway last year after blowing the whistle on corruption around the procurement of personal protective equipment by the Gauteng Department of Health.

Premier David Makhura says the provincial government is treating this matter with the attention that it deserves. 

He adds that labour matters relating to implicated officials have been referred to the head of the department. 

“The Gauteng provincial government is treating this matter in a very serious light and, consequently, the Office of the Premier is finalising the process of appointing an independent forensic investigator to investigate the allegations that have surfaced relating to the case."

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“While we are committed to ensuring that decisive action is taken against public servants that have been found to have failed in discharging their responsibilities in line with the PFMA, we need to ensure that our actions are in line with the PSA and other applicable prescripts.”

An investigation by News24 has revealed that provincial health boss Lerato Madyo ignored a plea issued by Deokaran weeks before her murder.

Deokaran had requested an investigation into R850 million in dubious payments made from the Tembisa Hospital.