Minister calls for protection reforms

MINISTER of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has called for urgent reforms to strengthen the protection of whistle-blowers in South Africa, following the murder of Marius van der Merwe, who was killed for exposing corruption.

- HOPE NTANZI

Speaking at the launch of the Babita Deokaran Annual Lecture yesterday, Hlabisa highlighted the critical need to protect truth-tellers and those who expose corruption, stating that the country must act swiftly to prevent further tragedies.

Deokaran, a former Acting Chief Director for Financial Accounting at the Gauteng Department of Health, was assassinated outside her home on August 23, 2021. She had been an instrumental figure in exposing financial irregularities, including nearly R850 million in suspicious transactions at Tembisa Hospital, which she attempted to block just days before her death.

Deokaran had warned that her life was at risk due to her efforts to prevent criminal syndicates from siphoning off public funds meant for patient care.

“Babita was killed because she stood between criminal syndicates and public money,’ Hlabisa said, emphasising the danger whistle-blowers face in their efforts to expose corruption.

Deokaran’s assassination, according to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), revealed a vast network of financial exploitation at hospitals, with suppliers and intermediaries inflating invoices, making bizarre purchases, and routing funds through shell entities.