The Chief Director of Financial Accounting in the Department of Health of South Africa’s Gauteng Province has been gunned down in what investigators believe is a targeted hit.
Babita Deokaran (pictured) was to be a key witness in a probe into fraudulent contracts for the provision of COVID-19 personal protective equipment.
Ms Deokaran (53) was shot multiple times outside her Johannesburg home after dropping off her child at school.
Police have discounted robbery as a motive as none of her possessions, including her phone, handbag and laptop, were taken from her vehicle.
She was rushed to hospital, but could not be saved.
In a statement, the Public Service Commission said it was shocked at the killing.
“It is sad that this incident takes place during Women’s Month,” the Commission said.
“Even sadder, is the fact that Ms Deokaran was not only an employee of the Department of Health in Gauteng, but was a mother and this cruel act has resulted in a child losing her mother,” it said.
“To the extent that Ms Deokaran’ s death is linked to her involvement with the Special Investigations Unit probe, the Commission views her killing as an attack not only on whistle-blowers, but on the Public Service as a whole.”
The Commission said the attack was “part of an orchestrated campaign by forces of darkness in South Africa who are doing what they can to ensure that the Public Service is inefficient and ineffective”.
“We encourage all Public Servants and members of the public not to be intimidated and silenced by such cowardly acts,” it said.
Pretoria, 29 August 2021
