'WE'VE HAD NO CLOSURE'
YOU South Africa|28 September 2023
The family of slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran are determined to find out who masterminded her murder
- MAXINE PETERS
'WE'VE HAD NO CLOSURE'

THERE are so many things they miss about their sister – her kindness and willingness to help, and the hearty meals she liked to cook for the people she loved.

Even though it’s been two years since Babita Deokaran was gunned down in the driveway of her Joburg home, her siblings say that they and her teenage daughter are still reeling from the devastating loss.

“It still feels like a dream,” says Babita’s brother, Rakesh Deokaran. There are times when it feels like she could walk through the door at any moment, he adds. “We just long to hear her voice.”

Babita’s murder sent shockwaves through SA in August 2021 as it became clear she’d paid the ultimate price for blowing the whistle on fraud and corruption at Tembisa Hospital. As chief director of the Gauteng health department’s financial accounting division, she exposed suspicious payments amounting to nearly R1 billion. The way she saw it, she was just doing her job, her brother says.

“Babita wasn’t prepared to turn a blind eye even though she knew her life was at risk,” Rakesh tells YOU.

On the second anniversary of Babita’s death, members of her family, civil society representatives and Gauteng government officials gathered for a memorial service to remember her bravery.

The event, organised by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation at Christ the King Church in Mondeor, Johannesburg, was bittersweet – just two days before, six men were sentenced for their involvement in her murder.

Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Radebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbhele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Siphakanyiswa Dladla all pleaded guilty and were given prison sentences ranging from six to 22 years, according to their roles in the hit.

この蚘事は YOU South Africa の 28 September 2023 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は YOU South Africa の 28 September 2023 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

YOU SOUTH AFRICAのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 分  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 分  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ 分  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 分  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 分  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 分  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 分  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 分  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 分  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 分  |
14 November 2024