Death of whistle-blower in PPE tender scandal an indictment on the Gauteng government

27 August 2021

The failure of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to protect key whistle-blower, Babita Deokaran in the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) scandal is a clear indictment on the Gauteng government.

Babita, who was the Gauteng Department of Health’s Chief Director of Financial Accounting officer was brave and courageous enough to come forward with information on corruption in the PPE tenders, instead, she was rewarded with a hail of bullets.

This week I have written to the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation to assure them that we will continue to put pressure on the provincial government to release the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) reports on the various investigations they have undertaken in the province including that of the procurement of PPE in the province.

This is worrying and is a huge setback in the fight against corruption in government and the public sector.

It is clear that our country is being held hostage by an ingrained culture of corruption and criminality which has now reached the point of no return.

The rot in our government needs to be exposed and now is the time for all parts of society, civic organisations and political parties to unite against the scourge of corruption.

Babita’s death cannot be in vain, and the DA will continue to expose the rampant looting of our government departments and entities.

Issued by Solly Msimanga, Official Leader of the Opposition-Gauteng Provincial Legislature, 27 August 2021