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The family of murdered Gauteng Health Department employee, Babita Deokaran, will join the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation on Tuesday to mark one year since the whistleblower was killed after lifting the lid on PPE procurement corruption.
Deokaran’s murder sparked a public outcry and calls for better protection for people exposing corruption in the state sector.
Kavisha Pillay of NPO, Corruption Watch, said while her death has raised concerns about the safety of whistleblowers, not enough is being done to protect them.
A memorial rally will be held at the Mondeor Baptist Church in Johannesburg and will be supported by several other organisations, including Defend Our Democracy Campaign, Active Citizens Movement, Action for Accountability, and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse.
Deokaran was the acting chief financial officer in the Gauteng Department of Health at the time of her murder which is believed to be linked to a R333 million PPE procurement scandal.
The Special Investigating Unit, which is probing her murder, has confirmed that she was also a key witness in the ongoing investigation.
Six alleged hitmen from Kwazulu Natal arrested for her murder are due to make another court appearance on Wednesday.
